The development of locomotor kinematics in neonatal rats: An agent-based modeling analysis in group and individual contexts

Authored by Jeffrey C. Schank

Date Published: 2008-10-21

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2008.07.024

Sponsors: United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) United States National Science Foundation (NSF)

Platforms: C

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

An agent-based model of infant rat (pup) locomotion and aggregation was developed by modifying a previous model of pup aggregation [Schank, J.C., Alberts, J.R., 2000a. The developmental emergence of coupled activity as cooperative aggregation in rat pups. Proc. R. Soc. London B 267, 2307-2315]. The main difference between the earlier and current models is the incorporation of whole-body kinematics of directional locomotion. Data on locomotion and aggregation are presented for individuals and groups of 7- and 10-day-old pups and the data were used to evolve models (with a genetic algorithm) that fit these data. Aggregation between 7- and 10-day-old pups was considerably different and could be explained by agent-based models, in particular, models with directional-kinematic matrices specifying the probabilities of moving to adjacent cells. The directional kinematics of whole-body movement differed between the two age classes and differed between group and individual contexts for 10-day-old pups. This may indicate a developmental transition (by day 10) to more central control of behavior and the ability to change patterns of movement based on social context. The behavior analyzed with agent-based models may provide a precise way to measure motor and nervous system development in rats and other rodents. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tags

Agent-based models Aggregation Locomotor movement Movement kinematics Rat development