Kaplan HS, Salazar Thula O, Khoss N, Zimmer M. Nested Neuronal Dynamics Orchestrate a
Behavioral Hierarchy across Timescales.
Neuron 2019;
105:562-576.e9. [PMID:
31786012 PMCID:
PMC7014571 DOI:
10.1016/j.neuron.2019.10.037]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Classical and modern ethological studies suggest that animal behavior is organized hierarchically across timescales, such that longer-timescale behaviors are composed of specific shorter-timescale actions. Despite progress relating neuronal dynamics to single-timescale behavior, it remains unclear how different timescale dynamics interact to give rise to such higher-order behavioral organization. Here, we show, in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, that a behavioral hierarchy spanning three timescales is implemented by nested neuronal dynamics. At the uppermost hierarchical level, slow neuronal population dynamics spanning brain and motor periphery control two faster motor neuron oscillations, toggling them between different activity states and functional roles. At lower hierarchical levels, these faster oscillations are further nested in a manner that enables flexible behavioral control in an otherwise rigid hierarchical framework. Our findings establish nested neuronal activity patterns as a repeated dynamical motif of the C. elegans nervous system, which together implement a controllable hierarchical organization of behavior.
Slow dynamics across brain and motor circuits drive upper-hierarchy motor states
Fast dynamics in motor circuits drive lower-hierarchy movements within these states
Slower dynamics tightly constrain the state and function of faster ones
This rigid hierarchy nevertheless enables flexible behavioral control
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