Peristaltic Crawling Research Articles

A device for measuring patterns of locomotor behavior in the earthworm

A simple device capable of eliciting and detecting earthworm locomotor activity is described and its use outlined. Movement is recorded as an animal crawls in a spoked, revolving wheel. The wheel permits peristaltic crawling, yet restricts the type and timing of other movements. As a result, records of activity differentiate the rate and patterning of peristaltic crawling from changes in bodily position.