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Spontaneous muscle twitches during sleep guide spinal self-organization

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Listed:
  • Per Petersson

    (Lund University)

  • Alexandra Waldenström

    (Lund University)

  • Christer Fåhraeus

    (Lund University)

  • Jens Schouenborg

    (Lund University)

Abstract

During development, information about the three-dimensional shape and mechanical properties of the body is laid down in the synaptic connectivity of sensorimotor systems through unknown adaptive mechanisms. In spinal reflex systems, this enables the fast transformation of complex sensory information into adequate correction of movements. Here we use a computer simulation to show that an unsupervised correlation-based learning mechanism, using spontaneous muscle twitches, can account for the functional adaptation of the withdrawal reflex system. We also show that tactile feedback resulting from spontaneous muscle twitches during sleep1,2,3 does indeed modify sensorimotor transformation in young rats in a predictable manner. The results indicate that these twitches, corresponding to human fetal movements4, are important in spinal self-organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Per Petersson & Alexandra Waldenström & Christer Fåhraeus & Jens Schouenborg, 2003. "Spontaneous muscle twitches during sleep guide spinal self-organization," Nature, Nature, vol. 424(6944), pages 72-75, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:424:y:2003:i:6944:d:10.1038_nature01719
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01719
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthias Kohler & Philipp Stratmann & Florian Röhrbein & Alois Knoll & Alin Albu-Schäffer & Henrik Jörntell, 2020. "Biological data questions the support of the self inhibition required for pattern generation in the half center model," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, September.

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