Coevolution of motor cortex and behavioral specializations associated with flight and echolocation in bats.
Curr Biol
; 32(13): 2935-2941.e3, 2022 07 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35617952
ABSTRACT
Bats have evolved behavioral specializations that are unique among mammals, including self-propelled flight and echolocation. However, areas of motor cortex that are critical in the generation and fine control of these unique behaviors have never been fully characterized in any bat species, despite the fact that bats compose â¼25% of extant mammalian species. Using intracortical microstimulation, we examined the organization of motor cortex in Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), a species that has evolved a novel form of tongue-based echolocation.1,2 We found that movement representations include an enlarged tongue region containing discrete subregions devoted to generating distinct tongue movement types, consistent with their behavioral specialization generating active sonar using tongue clicks. This magnification of the tongue in motor cortex is comparable to the enlargement of somatosensory representations in species with sensory specializations.3-5 We also found a novel degree of coactivation between the forelimbs and hindlimbs, both of which are involved in altering the shape and tension of wing membranes during flight. Together, these findings suggest that the organization of motor cortex has coevolved with peripheral morphology in bats to support the unique motor demands of flight and echolocation.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Quirópteros
/
Ecolocação
/
Córtex Motor
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Curr Biol
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article