Cercus Electric Stimulation Enables Cockroach with Trajectory Control and Spatial Cognition Training

Cyborg insects are highly adaptable for detection and recognition assignments, achieved through the electrical stimulation of multiple organs and nerves to control their locomotion. However, it remains unclear whether these control strategies can promote memory formation in insects, thereby facilita...

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Main Authors: Li Yu, Jieliang Zhao, Yufan Song, Zhiyun Ma, Zhong Liu, Lulu Liang, Mengdi Xu, Wenzhong Wang, Shaoze Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2025-01-01
Series:Cyborg and Bionic Systems
Online Access:https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/cbsystems.0154
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author Li Yu
Jieliang Zhao
Yufan Song
Zhiyun Ma
Zhong Liu
Lulu Liang
Mengdi Xu
Wenzhong Wang
Shaoze Yan
author_facet Li Yu
Jieliang Zhao
Yufan Song
Zhiyun Ma
Zhong Liu
Lulu Liang
Mengdi Xu
Wenzhong Wang
Shaoze Yan
author_sort Li Yu
collection DOAJ
description Cyborg insects are highly adaptable for detection and recognition assignments, achieved through the electrical stimulation of multiple organs and nerves to control their locomotion. However, it remains unclear whether these control strategies can promote memory formation in insects, thereby facilitating their training for recognition assignments. In this study, we employed a steering control strategy for cyborg insects in operant learning training of cockroaches in a T-maze. Remarkably, cockroaches developed a preference for specific maze channels after only five consecutive sessions of unilateral cercus electrical stimulation and steering behavior induction, achieving a memory score of 83.5%, outperforming traditional punishing training schemes. The experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of electrical stimulation on the cercus in improving the spatial cognition of cockroaches by inducing them to make specific choices in the maze. Our study revealed that the artificial locomotion control strategy can not only prompt insects to execute predetermined locomotion but also facilitate the formation of preferential memory for specific trajectories. Overall, our study highlights the electrical stimulation of sensory organs as a robust and efficient training protocol for spatial recognition learning in insects.
format Article
id doaj-art-d15d19f6cdb44530b1e779b0c6872e08
institution Kabale University
issn 2692-7632
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
record_format Article
series Cyborg and Bionic Systems
spelling doaj-art-d15d19f6cdb44530b1e779b0c6872e082025-08-20T03:48:26ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Cyborg and Bionic Systems2692-76322025-01-01610.34133/cbsystems.0154Cercus Electric Stimulation Enables Cockroach with Trajectory Control and Spatial Cognition TrainingLi Yu0Jieliang Zhao1Yufan Song2Zhiyun Ma3Zhong Liu4Lulu Liang5Mengdi Xu6Wenzhong Wang7Shaoze Yan8School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.School of Computer Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.School of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, P. R. China.School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.Cyborg insects are highly adaptable for detection and recognition assignments, achieved through the electrical stimulation of multiple organs and nerves to control their locomotion. However, it remains unclear whether these control strategies can promote memory formation in insects, thereby facilitating their training for recognition assignments. In this study, we employed a steering control strategy for cyborg insects in operant learning training of cockroaches in a T-maze. Remarkably, cockroaches developed a preference for specific maze channels after only five consecutive sessions of unilateral cercus electrical stimulation and steering behavior induction, achieving a memory score of 83.5%, outperforming traditional punishing training schemes. The experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of electrical stimulation on the cercus in improving the spatial cognition of cockroaches by inducing them to make specific choices in the maze. Our study revealed that the artificial locomotion control strategy can not only prompt insects to execute predetermined locomotion but also facilitate the formation of preferential memory for specific trajectories. Overall, our study highlights the electrical stimulation of sensory organs as a robust and efficient training protocol for spatial recognition learning in insects.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/cbsystems.0154
spellingShingle Li Yu
Jieliang Zhao
Yufan Song
Zhiyun Ma
Zhong Liu
Lulu Liang
Mengdi Xu
Wenzhong Wang
Shaoze Yan
Cercus Electric Stimulation Enables Cockroach with Trajectory Control and Spatial Cognition Training
Cyborg and Bionic Systems
title Cercus Electric Stimulation Enables Cockroach with Trajectory Control and Spatial Cognition Training
title_full Cercus Electric Stimulation Enables Cockroach with Trajectory Control and Spatial Cognition Training
title_fullStr Cercus Electric Stimulation Enables Cockroach with Trajectory Control and Spatial Cognition Training
title_full_unstemmed Cercus Electric Stimulation Enables Cockroach with Trajectory Control and Spatial Cognition Training
title_short Cercus Electric Stimulation Enables Cockroach with Trajectory Control and Spatial Cognition Training
title_sort cercus electric stimulation enables cockroach with trajectory control and spatial cognition training
url https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/cbsystems.0154
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