9318681 Ryan All vertebrates use their forelimbs for locomotion whether it be for walking, swimming or flying. Yet there is a great deal of diversity in forelimbs: The wings of a bird are anatomically different from the wings of bats, the flippers of a seal, and the legs of a mouse. Despite these structural and functional differences, the neurons from the brain and spinal cord responsible for controlling movement are thought to be "wired" in basically the same manner in all vertebrates. This has come to be known as the motor control conservatism hypothesis. In this research, Dr. James Ryan will test the conservatism hypothesis by locating and comparing the populations of neurons controlling forelimb movements in vertebrates that use a primitive type of locomotion (lizards) with those that use more advanced types of locomotion (bats and birds). For example the split second maneuvers of a flying bat as it homes in upon a moth illustrate the precise sensorimotor control of the forelimbs that is possible. Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight, and they evolved flight independently from birds. These three organisms represent ideal models for the the comparative study of locomotion control by the nervous system. Ultimately, this research will lead to the formation of a general model of the neural control of vertebrate locomotion. ***
