SYNAPTIC MECHANISMS IN INVERTEBRATE PATTERN GENERATION

Although individual neurons can be intrinsically oscillatory and can b e network pacemakers, motor patterns are often generated in a more dis tributed manner. Synaptic connections with other neurons are important because they either modify the rhythm of the pacemaker cell or are es sential for pattern generation in the first place. Computational studi es of half-center oscillators have made much progress in describing ho w neurons make transitions between active and inactive phases in these simple networks. In addition to characterizing phase transitions, rec ent studies have described the synaptic mechanisms that are important for the initiation and maintenance of activity in half-center oscillat ors.