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Regulation of two motor patterns enables the gradual adjustment of locomotion strategy in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Ingrid Hums | Julia Riedl | Fanny Mende | Saul Kato | Harris S Kaplan | Richard Latham | Michael Sonntag | Lisa Traunmüller | Manuel Zimmer
eLife | 2016

In animal locomotion a tradeoff exists between stereotypy and flexibility: fast long-distance travelling (LDT) requires coherent regular motions, while local sampling and area-restricted search (ARS) rely on flexible movements. We report here on a posture control system in C. elegans that coordinates these needs. Using quantitative posture analysis we explain worm locomotion as a composite of two modes: regular undulations versus flexible turning. Graded reciprocal regulation of both modes allows animals to flexibly adapt their locomotion strategy under sensory stimulation along a spectrum ranging from LDT to ARS. Using genetics and functional imaging of neural activity we characterize the counteracting interneurons AVK and DVA that utilize FLP-1 and NLP-12 neuropeptides to control both motor modes. Gradual regulation of behaviors via this system is required for spatial navigation during chemotaxis. This work shows how a nervous system controls simple elementary features of posture to generate complex movements for goal-directed locomotion strategies.

Pubmed ID: 27222228

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Associated grants

  • Agency: European Research Council, International
    Id: 281869

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