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Movement Trend Alterations in the Periaqueductal Gray (PAG)-Employed Ratbot Navigation Are Correlated with Stimulation Parameters

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Abstract

In previous studies, Periaqueductal Gray (PAG) stimulation was used to stop ratbots from moving. Due to the homology between the PAG and the intercollicular nucleus, which has been used for forward movement in birds, we investigated the possibility of PAG application to induce forward locomotion for the first time. Using a corridor maze, the traveled distances via PAG electrical stimulation were examined in nine Wistar male rats during three sessions. A custom-designed stimulator was developed to apply the stimulation. The results showed reductions in responses to stimulation over time. Accordingly, the traveled distances had negative slopes during the consecutive trials (in 8 out of the 9 rats), and the slope mean was significantly different from zero. There was a strong correlation between the stimulation parameters (electric Charge per Phase (CPP) and the Number of Pulses (NP)) and the observed slopes. The negative Movement Slopes (MS) were highly correlated with the CPP and the NP, as the Pearson's linear correlation coefficients were − 0.87 and − 0.79, respectively. The MS-CPP coefficients of determination (R-squared) were also between 0.76 and 0.95. In addition, the MS-NP coefficients of determination were between 0.63 and 0.87. Thus, it is concluded that the electrical stimulation parameters influence the behavioral outcomes directly. Furthermore, the PAG area may be considered a suitable candidate for forward locomotion control in the future if the area is harnessed effectively to prevent undesirable chaotic behaviors.

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Data Availability

The datasets of the current study are available from the corresponding authors upon requests. Please refer to the following Google Drive link to observe the experiment’s clips: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11wreChR1X1SaeZvQH-EdMY7yOGLrVcnP?usp=share_link

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank “Kerman Neuroscience Research Center” for their full support in terms of providing the financial grant and the required instruments.

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Author notes

  1. Mohammad Reza Afarinesh and Vahid Sheibani have contributed equally to this manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 7619813159, Iran

    Sina Khajei, Abed Khorasani, Mohammad Reza Afarinesh & Vahid Sheibani

  2. Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 7616913555, Iran

    Abed Khorasani, Mohammad Reza Afarinesh & Vahid Sheibani

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  1. Sina Khajei
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Khajei, S., Khorasani, A., Afarinesh, M.R. et al. Movement Trend Alterations in the Periaqueductal Gray (PAG)-Employed Ratbot Navigation Are Correlated with Stimulation Parameters. J Bionic Eng 21, 866–876 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-023-00464-5

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