Evolution of playlike behaviour and the uncoupling of neural locomotor mechanisms

Locomotion is an important component of many types of behaviour including p lay-like behaviour. Play and play-like behaviour result from behavioral exp ansion and are characterized by a high flexibility and rich repertoire of a ctivities. In this paper the phenomenon of uncoupling of neural locomotor m echanisms and its significance for the emergence of new behavioural pattern s are discussed using data from the literature. It is argued that uncouplin g of central pattern generators for locomotion may have been an important m echanism in evolution allowing the emergence of richer behavioural repertoi res and thus of behavioural expansion.