Neuromimes: Action of a Reciprocally Inhibitory Pair

Two electronic neuron models (neuromimes) connected to a common excitatory input and having both self- and mutual-inhibition were used to simulate the pulse patterns which control wing musculature in certain insects. With variation of stimulus frequency, firing patterns changed in discrete steps. Pattern change was found to be hysteretic: the pattern elicited by a given stimulus frequency depended on whether that frequency was approached from above or below. Pattern selection could be controlled by the injection or deletion of a single pulse in the stimulus pulse-train as well as by smooth frequency change.