QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, June 15, 2003, 23(12):5319-5328

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (19) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zhao, B. Articles by Dent, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zhao, B. Articles by Dent, J. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Reversal Frequency in Caenorhabditis elegans Represents an Integrated Response to the State of the Animal and Its Environment

Beibei Zhao, Parul Khare, Lisa Feldman, and Joseph A. Dent

Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada

The locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans consists of forward crawling punctuated by spontaneous reversals. To better understand the important variables that affect locomotion, we have described in detail the locomotory behavior of C. elegans and identified a set of parameters that are sufficient to describe the animal's trajectory. A model of locomotion based on these parameters indicates that reversal frequency plays a central role in locomotion. We found that several variables such as humidity, gravidity, and mechanostimulation influence reversal frequency. Specifically, both gentle and harsh touch can transiently suppress reversal frequency. Thus, reversal behavior is a model for the integration of information from numerous modalities reflecting diverse aspects of the state of an organism.

Key words: locomotion; sensory integration; reversals; computer modeling; behavioral plasticity; Caenorhabditis elegans

---

Received Jan. 10, 2003; revised Mar. 19, 2003; accepted Mar. 25, 2003.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. P. Harris, V. M. Hapiak, R. T. Wragg, S. B. Miller, L. J. Hughes, R. J. Hobson, R. Steven, B. Bamber, and R. W. Komuniecki Three Distinct Amine Receptors Operating at Different Levels within the Locomotory Circuit Are Each Essential for the Serotonergic Modulation of Chemosensation in Caenorhabditis elegans J. Neurosci., February 4, 2009; 29(5): 1446 - 1456. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Janssen, S. J. Husson, M. Lindemans, I. Mertens, S. Rademakers, K. V. Donck, J. Geysen, G. Jansen, and L. Schoofs Functional Characterization of Three G Protein-coupled Receptors for Pigment Dispersing Factors in Caenorhabditis elegans J. Biol. Chem., May 30, 2008; 283(22): 15241 - 15249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Murakami, K. Bessinger, J. Hellmann, and S. Murakami Aging-Dependent and -Independent Modulation of Associative Learning Behavior by Insulin/Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Signal in Caenorhabditis elegans J. Neurosci., November 23, 2005; 25(47): 10894 - 10904. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. C. Miller, T. R. Thiele, S. Faumont, M. L. Moravec, and S. R. Lockery Step-Response Analysis of Chemotaxis in Caenorhabditis elegans J. Neurosci., March 30, 2005; 25(13): 3369 - 3378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Gray, J. J. Hill, and C. I. Bargmann Inaugural Article: A circuit for navigation in Caenorhabditis elegans PNAS, March 1, 2005; 102(9): 3184 - 3191. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help