Example of 2:1 interlimb coordination during fictive rostral scratching in a spinal turtle.

Abstract

The usual interlimb coordination pattern during fictive rostral scratching in turtles is 1:1 coordination. We describe an example in a turtle of 2:1 coordination during fictive rostral scratching in which there were two cycles of ipsilateral hip flexor activity during each cycle of contralateral hip extensor activity. During 2:1 coordination, there were fluctuations in the ipsilateral hip flexor cycle period such that a larger ipsilateral hip flexor normalized period, which was associated with the onset of a contralateral hip extensor burst, alternated with a smaller ipsilateral hip flexor normalized period, which was associated with the absence of the onset of a contralateral hip extensor burst. These observations support the concept that contralateral circuitry modulates the timing of ipsilateral motor rhythms and therefore contributes to the production of the ipsilateral motor pattern for rostral scratching.