Motor control pathways in the nervous system of Octopus vulgaris arm
Open accessAbstract
The octopus's arms have virtually infinite degrees of freedom, providing a unique opportunity for studying movement control in a redundant motor system. Here, we investigated the organization of the connections between the brain and arms through the cerebrobrachial tracts (CBT). To do this, we analyzed the neuronal activity associated with the contraction of a small muscle strand left connected at the middle of a long isolated CBT. Both electrical activity in the CBT and muscle contraction could be induced at low threshold values irrespective of stimulus direction and distance from the muscle strand. This suggests that axons associated with transmitting motor commands run along the CBT and innervate a large pool of motor neurons en passant. This type of innervation implies that central and peripheral motor commands involve the simultaneous recruitment of large groups of motor neurons along the arm as required, for example, in arm stiffening, and that the site of movement initiation along the arm may be determined through a unique interplay between global central commands and local sensory signals.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The details of where and how to execute behaviors may be locally determined by integrating mechanical, chemical, and proprioceptive information within the brachial ganglia.
“The details of where and how to execute these behaviors may then be locally determined by integrating mechanical, chemical, and proprioceptive information within the brachial ganglia (Zullo et al., 2019).”
From Lessons for Robotics From the Control Architecture of the Octopus (2022) · cites this paper as Zullo et al., 2019
The Discussion (page not available) proposes that local sensory information combines with central commands to determine where arm behavior occurs, and that this integration may take place in the medullary cord. It identifies sensory input from the suckers and skin and proprioceptive input from muscles, but does not specify chemical and mechanical information as the inputs being integrated. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredEfferent pathways of the axonal tract make broad, non-specific contacts with ganglia along the arm, supporting the idea that the brain does not precisely control specific segments of the arms.
“Recent work has shown efferent pathways of the axonal tract making broad, non-specific contacts with ganglia along the arm, supporting the idea that the brain does not precisely control specific segments of the arms (Zullo et al., 2019).”
From Lessons for Robotics From the Control Architecture of the Octopus (2022) · cites this paper as Zullo et al., 2019
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Structure and function in the nervous systems of invertebrates
Bullock, T. H., Horridge, G. A., Bern, H. A., Hagedorn, I. R., & Smith, J. E. (1965) · Cited by 1,042 · see citing works
Tongues, Tentacles and Trunks: the Biomechanics of Movement in Muscular-Hydrostats
KIER, W. M., & SMITH, K. K. (1985) · Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society · doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1985.tb01178.x · Cited by 910 · see citing works
THE ANATOMY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF OCTOPUS VULGARIS
Newth, D. R. (1972) · Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry · doi:10.1136/jnnp.35.3.421-a · Cited by 444 · see citing works
Cephalopod chromatophores: neurobiology and natural history
MESSENGER, J. B. (2001) · Biological Reviews · doi:10.1017/s1464793101005772 · Cited by 414 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Yet, we cannot rule out the possibility that a relatively small fraction of the axons in the CBT is organized as labeled lines as, for example, in the chromatophore system (Messenger 2001; Liu and Chiao 2017).”
BackgroundThe anatomy of the nervous system of Octopus vulgaris
Young, J. Z. (1971) · Cited by 357 · see citing works
Fiorito, G., Affuso, A., Basil, J. A., Cole, A. G., de Girolamo, P., D’Angelo, L., Dickel, L., Gestal, C., Grasso, F. W., Kuba, M. J., et al. (2015) · Laboratory Animals · doi:10.1177/0023677215580006 · Cited by 345 · see citing works
Invertebrate neurophylogeny: suggested terms and definitions for a neuroanatomical glossary
Richter, S., Loesel, R., Purschke, G., Schmidt‐Rhaesa, A., Scholtz, G., Stach, T., Vogt, L., Wanninger, A., Brenneis, G., Döring, C., et al. (2010) · Frontiers in Zoology · doi:10.1186/1742-9994-7-29 · Cited by 334 · see citing works
Control of octopus arm extension by a peripheral motor program
Sumbre, G., Gutfreund, Y., Fiorito, G., Flash, T., & Hochner, B. (2001) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1060976 · Cited by 319 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Anatomy of the Nervous System
Ranson, S. W. (1925) · The American Journal of the Medical Sciences · doi:10.1097/00000441-192501000-00020 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Dynamic Model of the Octopus Arm. I. Biomechanics of the Octopus Reaching Movement
Yekutieli, Y., Sagiv-Zohar, R., Aharonov, R., Engel, Y., Hochner, B., & Flash, T. (2005) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00684.2004 · Cited by 221 · see citing works
Self-citationPan, C., Zhang, R., Luo, H., et al. (2016) · Advances in Mechanical Engineering · doi:10.1177/1687814016675534 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
The Arrangement and Function of octopus Arm Musculature and Connective Tissue
Kier, W. M., & Stella, M. P. (2007) · Journal of Morphology · doi:10.1002/jmor.10548 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
An Embodied View of Octopus Neurobiology
Hochner, B. (2012) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.001 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Self-citationOctopuses Use a Human-like Strategy to Control Precise Point-to-Point Arm Movements
Sumbre, G., Fiorito, G., Flash, T., & Hochner, B. (2006) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2006.02.069 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Self-citationOrganization of Octopus Arm Movements: A Model System for Studying the Control of Flexible Arms
Gutfreund, Y., Flash, T., Yarom, Y., Fiorito, G., Segev, I., & Hochner, B. (1996) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.16-22-07297.1996 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Self-citationMotor control of flexible octopus arms
Sumbre, G., Fiorito, G., Flash, T., & Hochner, B. (2005) · Nature · doi:10.1038/433595a · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Self-citationCephalopods in neuroscience: regulations, research and the 3Rs
Fiorito, G., Affuso, A., Anderson, D., Basil, J. A., Bonnaud, L., Botta, G., Cole, A. G., D’Angelo, L., de Girolamo, P., Dennison, N., et al. (2014) · Invertebrate Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/s10158-013-0165-x · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Self-citationPatterns of Arm Muscle Activation Involved in Octopus Reaching Movements
Gutfreund, Y., Flash, T., Fiorito, G., & Hochner, B. (1998) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.18-15-05976.1998 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Self-citationNonsomatotopic organization of the higher motor centers in octopus
Zullo, L., Sumbre, G., Agnisola, C., Flash, T., & Hochner, B. (2009) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.07.067 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Self-citationHuffard, C. L. (2006) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.02435 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Underwater Bipedal Locomotion by Octopuses in Disguise
Huffard, C. L., Boneka, F. B., & Full, R. J. (2005) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1109616 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Control of Accept and Reject Reflexes in the Octopus
Altman, J. S. (1971) · Nature · doi:10.1038/229204a0 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
The Musculature of Coleoid Cephalopod Arms and Tentacles
Kier, W. M. (2016) · Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · doi:10.3389/fcell.2016.00010 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Patterns of Motor Activity in the Isolated Nerve Cord of the octopus Arm
Gutfreund, Y., Matzner, H., Flash, T., & Hochner, B. (2006) · The Biological Bulletin · doi:10.2307/4134544 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Self-citationDynamic Model of the Octopus Arm. II. Control of Reaching Movements
Yekutieli, Y., Sagiv-Zohar, R., Hochner, B., & Flash, T. (2005) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00685.2004 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Self-citationNeuromuscular system of the flexible arm of the octopus: physiological characterization
Matzner, H., Gutfreund, Y., & Hochner, B. (2000) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.2000.83.3.1315 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Self-citationExcitatory and Inhibitory Pathways in the Arm of <i>Octopus</i>
Fraser Rowell, C. H. (1963) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.40.2.257 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Hochner, B. (2013) · Brain Behavior and Evolution · doi:10.1159/000353419 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Self-citationA new perspective on the organization of an invertebrate brain
Zullo, L., & Hochner, B. (2011) · Communicative & Integrative Biology · doi:10.4161/cib.13804 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Self-citationActivity of Interneurones in the Arm of <i>Octopus</i> in Response to Tactile Stimulation
Rowell, C. H. F. (1966) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.44.3.589 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Central pathways of the nerves of the arms and mantle of <i>Octopus</i>
Budelmann, B. U., & Young, J. Z. (1985) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.1985.0101 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
A new perspective on the organization of an invertebrate brain.
Zullo, L., & Hochner, B. (2011) · PubMed · doi:10.4161/cib.4.1.13804 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Self-citationEmbodied Organization of Octopus vulgaris Morphology, Vision, and Locomotion
Levy, G., & Hochner, B. (2017) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2017.00164 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Self-citationNödl, M., Fossati, S. M., Domíngues, P., Sánchez, F. J., & Zullo, L. (2015) · EvoDevo · doi:10.1186/s13227-015-0012-8 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Self-citationOctopus arm regeneration: Role of acetylcholinesterase during morphological modification
Fossati, S. M., Carella, F., Vico, G. D., Benfenati, F., & Zullo, L. (2013) · Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology · doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2013.02.015 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Self-citationEmbodiment design of soft continuum robots
Kang, R., Guglielmino, E., Zullo, L., Branson, D. T., Godage, I. S., & Caldwell, D. G. (2016) · Advances in Mechanical Engineering · doi:10.1177/1687814016643302 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Self-citationMolecular Determinants of Cephalopod Muscles and Their Implication in Muscle Regeneration
Zullo, L., Fossati, S. M., Imperadore, P., & Nödl, M. (2017) · Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · doi:10.3389/fcell.2017.00053 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Self-citationPossible Muscle Repair in the Human Cardiovascular System
Sommese, L., Zullo, A., Schiano, C., Mancini, F. P., & Claudio Napoli, A. (2017) · Stem Cell Reviews and Reports · doi:10.1007/s12015-016-9711-3 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Cephalopods Between Science, Art, and Engineering: A Contemporary Synthesis
Nakajima, R., Shigeno, S., Zullo, L., Sio, F. D., & Schmidt, M. R. (2018) · Frontiers in Communication · doi:10.3389/fcomm.2018.00020 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Self-citationOctopus-inspired sensorimotor control of a multi-arm soft robot
Li, T., Nakajima, K., Calisti, M., Laschi, C., & Pfeifer, R. (2012) · IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation (ICMA) · doi:10.1109/icma.2012.6283271 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
How to move with no rigid skeleton? The octopus has the answers.
Yekutieli, Y., Sumbre, G., Flash, T., et al. (2002) · PubMed · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Fossati, S. M., Candiani, S., Nödl, M., Maragliano, L., Pennuto, M., Domíngues, P., Benfenati, F., Pestarino, M., & Zullo, L. (2014) · Molecular Neurobiology · doi:10.1007/s12035-014-8842-2 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citationFUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE NEUROMUSCULAR SYSTEM OF THE oCtoPuS VulGariS ARM
Hochner, B. (2012) · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citationMosaic Organization of Body Pattern Control in the Optic Lobe of Squids
Liu, T.-H., & Chiao, C. (2016) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0768-16.2016 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Effect of nutrient deprivation on the expression and the epigenetic signature of sirtuin genes
Zullo, A., Simone, E., Grimaldi, M., Gagliardi, M., Zullo, L., Matarazzo, M. R., & Mancini, F. P. (2018) · Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases · doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2018.02.004 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Self-citationMotor Control in Soft-Bodied Animals
Levy, G., Nesher, N., Zullo, L., & Hochner, B. (2017) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190456757.013.36 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Self-citationThe application of embodiment theory to the design and control of an octopus-like robotic arm
Guglielmino, E., Zullo, L., Cianchetti, M., Follador, M., Branson, D. T., & Caldwell, D. G. (2012) · Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation/Proceedings · doi:10.1109/icra.2012.6224907 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Self-citationZullo, L., Buschiazzo, A., Massollo, M., et al. (2018) · Journal of Nuclear Medicine · doi:10.2967/jnumed.117.205393 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationA pragmatic bio-inspired approach to the design of octopus-inspired arms
Guglielmino, E., Godage, I. S., Zullo, L., & Caldwell, D. G. (2013) · IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) · doi:10.1109/iros.2013.6697014 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Octopus Arms Exhibit Exceptional Flexibility
Kennedy, E. B. L., Buresch, K. C., Boinapally, P., & Hanlon, R. T. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77873-7 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Di Clemente, A., Maiole, F., Bornia, I., & Zullo, L. (2021) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.242644 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citationLessons for Robotics From the Control Architecture of the Octopus
Sivitilli, D. M., Smith, J. R., & Gire, D. H. (2022) · Frontiers in Robotics and AI · doi:10.3389/frobt.2022.862391 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
- Authors
- Zullo, L., Eichenstein, H., Maiole, F., & Hochner, B.
- Affiliations
- Italian Institute of Technology (IT)
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Zullo, Letizia
- Venue
- Journal of Comparative Physiology A
- Published
- 2019-03-27
- Volume
- 205
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 271-279
- ISSN
- 0340-7594 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-1351
- PMC
- PMC6478645
- OpenAlex
- W2925306438
- Cited by
- 52
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 3.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Comparative Physiology A (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- European Cooperation in Science and Technology (287728, FP7-231608)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Keywords
- Octopus vulgaris, octopus arm, motor control, motoneuron pools, muscle contraction, movement initiation, cephalopod nervous system
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Extremities, Motor Neurons, Movement, Neural Pathways, Octopodiformes
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
