Pattern generation.

The study of rhythmic motor pattern generation continues to be dominated by preparations in which cellular and circuit mechanisms can be bridged. Using these preparations, basic questions such as how circuits can be modified in order to generate a large number of patterns have begun to be answered. The action of neuromodulators on second messengers and channel proteins can provide a link between molecular studies and behavior. There has been a large increase in the use of computer simulations, and their usefulness as a way of studying pattern generation is growing.