We describe a method to record motor activity, timed to the electrically recorded tarsal contact signal in a tethered insect, walking on a slippery surface. This is used to study the neural basis of adaptive behavior under reduced influence of mechanical interaction between legs through the substrate.
Gruhn, M., Rosenbaum, P., Bollhagen, H., Bueschges, A. Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects. J. Vis. Exp. (50), e2629, doi:10.3791/2629 (2011).