Straight locomotion in the lamprey is, at the segmental level, characterized by alternating bursts of motor activity with
equal duration and spike frequency on the left and the right sides of the body. Lateral turns are characterized by three main
changes in this pattern: (1) in the turn cycle, the spike frequency, burst duration, and burst proportion (burst duration/cycle
duration) increase on the turning side; (2) the cycle duration increases in both the turn cycle and the succeeding cycle;
and (3) in the cycle succeeding the turn cycle, the burst duration increases on the non-turning side (
rebound). We investigated mechanisms for the generation of turns in single-segment models of the lamprey locomotor spinal network.
Activation of crossing inhibitory neurons proved a sufficient mechanism to explain all three changes in the locomotor rhythm
during a fictive turn. Increased activation of these cells inhibits the activity of the opposite side during the prolonged
burst of the turn cycle, and slows down the locomotor rhythm. Secondly, this activation of the crossing inhibitory neurons
is accompanied by an increased calcium influx into the cells. This gives a suppressed activity on the turning side and a contralateral
rebound after the turn, through activation of calcium-dependent potassium channels.
Received: 28 June 2000 / Accepted for publication: 10 May 2001