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Publication

Locomotion modulates olfactory learning through proprioception in C. elegans.

Nature communications | 2023

Locomotor activities can enhance learning, but the underlying circuit and synaptic mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we show that locomotion facilitates aversive olfactory learning in C. elegans by activating mechanoreceptors in motor neurons, and transmitting the proprioceptive information thus generated to locomotion interneurons through antidromic-rectifying gap junctions. The proprioceptive information serves to regulate experience-dependent activities and functional coupling of interneurons that process olfactory sensory information to produce the learning behavior. Genetic destruction of either the mechanoreceptors in motor neurons, the rectifying gap junctions between the motor neurons and locomotion interneurons, or specific inhibitory synapses among the interneurons impairs the aversive olfactory learning. We have thus uncovered an unexpected role of proprioception in a specific learning behavior as well as the circuit, synaptic, and gene bases for this function.

Pubmed ID: 37500635

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Associated grants

Agency: NIH HHS, United States
Id: P40 OD010440
Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
Id: R01 MH085927
Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
Id: R01 NS109388

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