An Integrative, Multi-Scale Computational Model of a Swimming Lamprey Fully Coupled to Its Fluid Environment and Incorporating Proprioceptive Feedback

Christina L. Hamlet, Tulane University, Mathematics/Center for Computational Science, New Orleans, LA, United States, Kathleen Hoffman, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Mathematics and Statistics, Baltimore, MD, United States, Lisa Fauci, Tulane University, Mathematics, New Orleans, LA, United States and Eric Tytell, Tufts University, Biology, Boston, MA, United States
Abstract:
The lamprey is a model organism for both neurophysiology and locomotion studies. To study the role of sensory feedback as an organism moves through its environment, a 2D, integrative, multi-scale model of an anguilliform swimmer driven by neural activation from a central pattern generator (CPG) is constructed. The CPG in turn drives muscle kinematics and is fully coupled to the surrounding fluid. The system is numerically evolved in time using an immersed boundary framework producing an emergent swimming mode. Proprioceptive feedback to the CPG based on experimental observations adjust the activation signal as the organism interacts with its environment. Effects on the speed, stability and cost (metabolic work) of swimming due to nonlinear dependencies associated with muscle force development combined with proprioceptive feedback to neural activation are estimated and examined. 
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