Nature Communications (Dec 2020)

Distributed control of motor circuits for backward walking in Drosophila

  • Kai Feng,
  • Rajyashree Sen,
  • Ryo Minegishi,
  • Michael Dübbert,
  • Till Bockemühl,
  • Ansgar Büschges,
  • Barry J. Dickson

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19936-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 17

Abstract

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Drosophila Moonwalker Descending Neurons (MDNs) alter leg motor circuit dynamics so that the fly walks backwards. The authors identify two MDN effector neurons that directly control the stance and swing phases of the backward stepping cycle, indicating distributed control of local motor circuits via command-type descending neurons.