These new concepts of a central pattern generation and a motor symphony bring a new perspective to behavior, such that we can account for actions in a larger picture- that of groups of potentials that can be organized into intermediate sized boxes instead of a minute picture given by looking at the level of the neuron. Thus we can expand our concept of potentials to actually link and refer these mechanisms to behavior that we are familiar with, such as walking. The experiments with the baby crickets provide compelling evidence for a genetic basis to the central pattern generation. One's predisposition to certain talents can now be understood to involve hereditary units that play a role in directing movements that are connected to the nervous system. Thus we can truly see the nervous system as having neurons which each act as computer central processing units. The existence of a memory capability, of which some information is genetically determined is pretty amazing-- that such information is stored before it is used, and that it has been there since the development of the embryo nervous system. The storage of memory also seems like it might be an evolutionary-related mechanism, which helps us to prevent having to write a new symphony every time.

Interesting thoughts/extensions. Be careful, though, not to equate CPG with genetic information. They can also result from experience (and, in general, involve both). PG