Figure 1.

Design and activity of hybrid half-center oscillator. A, Heart interneurons (HN), in an isolated ganglion preparation, were pharmacologically isolated with bicuculline. Voltage/current-clamp amplifiers were used for recording and current injection into heart interneurons and the silicon neuron (SiN). A single sharp microelectrode in discontinuous current-clamp mode was used for voltage recording and current injection into an isolated heart interneuron. Voltage recording and current injection into the silicon neuron were provided by direct connection to amplifier headstages (two-electrode current-clamp mode). Dynamic clamp provided real-time control signals to create artificial synapses between a heart interneuron and the silicon neuron. B, Activity of a living heart interneuron half-center oscillator in an isolated ganglion 3 (heart interneurons indexed by body side and ganglion number). C, Activity of a hybrid half-center oscillator.