The Neuronal Control of Dragonfly Flight

Abstract

Intracellular recordings were made from identified motor neurons, singly and in pairs, in tethered flying and non-flying dragonflies. During flight large rhythmical fluctuations in membrane potential occur in flight motor neurons. The frequency of these fluctuations varied in the same motor neuron at different times, and could be different in different motor neurons simultaneously. The phase relations between different motor neurons could change. Several interneurons had inputs to flight motor neurons and each motor neuron received synaptic inputs from a separate set of interneurons. Motor neurons had synaptic inputs to central neurons, forming feedback loops. As in the locust, populations of non-spiking interneurons drove flight motor neurons.