Encoding lateralization of jump kinematics and eye use in a locust via bio-robotic artifacts

The effect of earlier exposure to lateral sensory stimuli in shaping the response to subsequent symmetric stimuli represents an important overlooked issue in neuroethology, with special reference to arthropods. In this research, we investigated the hypothesis to “program” jumping escape direction as well as surveillance orientation, in young and adult individuals of Locusta migratoria, as an adaptive consequence of prior exposure to directional-biased predator approaches generated by a robotic leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius. The manipulation of the jumping escape direction was successfully achieved in young locusts, although young L. migratoria did not exhibit innately lateralized jumping escapes. Jumping escape direction was successfully manipulated also in adult locusts exhibiting innate lateralized jumping escape at individual level. The innate lateralization of each instar of L. migratoria in using a preferential eye during surveillance was not affected by prior lateralized exposure to the robotic gecko. Our results indicate a high plasticity of those escape motor outputs, that are occurring almost in real time with the perceived stimuli, making them greatly adaptable and compliant to environmental changes, to be effective and reliable. In addition, surveillance lateralization innately occurs at population-level in each instar of L. migratoria. Therefore, its low forgeability by environmental factors would avoid disorganization at swarm level and improving swarm coordination during group tasks. These findings are consistent with the fact that, as in vertebrates, in insects the right hemisphere is specialized in controlling fear and escape functions.