Hierarchical sparse coding in the sensory system of
            <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>

Zaslaver, Alon; Liani, Idan; Shtangel, Oshrat; Ginzburg, Shira; Yee, Lisa D.; Sternberg, Paul W.

doi:10.1073/pnas.1423656112

Cited by 104 publications

(131 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The AWC and AWB neurons, which are required for imprinted aversion and adult learned aversion, detect both E. coli- and PA14-conditioned media (Ha et al, 2010). The ASJ neurons detect PA14 secondary metabolites associated with virulence (Meisel et al, 2014), and also detect E. coli conditioned medium, as do numerous other sensory neurons (Zaslaver et al, 2015). The collective activity of multiple sensory neurons allows discrimination between bacterial odors, providing a substrate for olfactory learning and memory (Harris et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinct Circuits for the Formation and Retrieval of an Imprinted Olfactory Memory

Jin

Pokala

Bargmann

2016

Cell

136

201

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Summary Memories formed early in life are particularly stable and influential, representing privileged experiences that shape enduring behaviors. Here we show that exposing newly-hatched C. elegans to pathogenic bacteria results in persistent aversion to those bacterial odors, whereas adult exposure generates only transient aversive memory. Long-lasting imprinted aversion has a critical period in the first larval stage, and is specific to the experienced pathogen. Distinct groups of neurons are required during formation (AIB, RIM) and retrieval (AIY, RIA) of the imprinted memory. RIM synthesizes the neuromodulator tyramine, which is required in the L1 stage for learning. AIY memory retrieval neurons sense tyramine via the SER-2 receptor, which is essential for imprinted but not for adult-learned aversion. Odor responses in several neurons, most notably RIA, are altered in imprinted animals. These findings provide insight into neuronal substrates of different forms of memory, and lay a foundation for further understanding of early learning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinct Circuits for the Formation and Retrieval of an Imprinted Olfactory Memory

Jin

Pokala

Bargmann

2016

Cell

136

201

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“…The olfactory circuit of C. elegans consists of a small number of highly interconnected neurons, with an average of 3.5 synapses separating sensory neuron input from motor neuron output [2,3,11]. Using this circuit, C. elegans can sense and respond to at least 50 odorants [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For ADL neurons, the male ADL response is shown in green and the hermaphrodite response is shown in black. The functional properties described were based off the following references: AWC [11,12,15,19–23,33], AWA [28,39], ASH [18,39], BAG [22,44,48,50,52–54], ADL [36,59]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The AWA olfactory neurons are “on-cells” that depolarize in the presence of odors, whereas the AWC olfactory neurons are “off-cells” that hyperpolarize in the presence of odors and depolarize upon odor removal [11,15–17]. AWB neurons show both “off” and “on” responses [11,16–18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…AWB neurons show both “off” and “on” responses [11,16–18]. Each of these neurons has synaptic connections with other sensory neurons as well as downstream interneurons [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Olfactory circuits and behaviors of nematodes

Rengarajan

Hallem

2016

Current Opinion in Neurobiology

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Summary Over one billion people worldwide are infected with parasitic nematodes. Many parasitic nematodes actively search for hosts to infect using volatile chemical cues, so understanding the olfactory signals that drive host seeking may elucidate new pathways for preventing infections. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful model for parasitic nematodes: because sensory neuroanatomy is conserved across nematode species, an understanding of the microcircuits that mediate olfaction in C. elegans may inform studies of olfaction in parasitic nematodes. Here we review circuit mechanisms that allow C. elegans to respond to odorants, gases, and pheromones. We also highlight work on the olfactory behaviors of parasitic nematodes that lays the groundwork for future studies of their olfactory microcircuits.

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A Shearless Microfluidic Device Detects a Role in Mechanosensitivity for AWC^ON Neuron in Caenorhabditis elegans

et al. 2021

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Caenorhabditis elegans, a microscopic transparent soil nematode with 302 neurons and a well-defined neural connectivity, is one of the most popular bio-platform to study the functioning of nervous systems. Despite its anatomical simplicity, C. elegans displays an impressively rich repertoire of simple and more complex behaviors arising from a large variety of different sensory cues, such as smell, taste, touch, oxygen level, and temperature. [1][2][3] The chemosensory network, comprising ≈34 chemosensory neurons, is one of the most studied circuits in C. elegans for the richness of its functioning despite the low number of neurons involved. [3][4][5] By using genetically encoded calcium indicators, it is possible to record neuronal activity at single-cell resolution in response to a specific chemical stimulus. [6] Microfluidics technologies have allowed for the precise handling of the fluids and the dynamical stimulation at the sub-second scale and have been widely used to perform neuronal activity recordings in controlled experimental conditions improving high-throughput and automation. [7,8] Most of calcium imaging experiments with chemical stimulation are nowadays carried out using microfluidics devices to spatially and temporally control the environment [9][10][11] while recording neuronal activity from olfactory neurons. One of the most successful microfluidic platforms for assaying chemosensory neuronal activity is the olfactory chip developed by Chronis et al., [8] widely used to reveal stimulus-response relationships of chemosensory neurons in mechanically trapped nematodes. Larsch et al. [7] have developed microfluidic arenas to simultaneously record neuronal activity from about 20 nematodes at once by adopting wide-field fluorescence microscopy.Nevertheless, in both microfluidic devices cited above, the chemical stimulus is delivered via a fluid flow controlled by valves that may induce the activation of some unwanted mechanosensitive processes, for example, ion channels involved in mechanosensation. [12] In fact, when the worm is loaded in a microfluidic device for olfactory stimulation, it is subject to a flowing stream that alternately contains the control or stimulus solution. In this condition, the nematode may experience the AWC olfactory neurons are fundamental for chemotaxis toward volatile attractants in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, it is shown that AWC ON responds not only to chemicals but also to mechanical stimuli caused by fluid flow changes in a microfluidic device. The dynamics of calcium events are correlated with the stimulus amplitude. It is further shown that the mechanosensitivity of AWC ON neurons has an intrinsic nature rather than a synaptic origin, and the calcium transient response is mediated by TAX-4 cGMP-gated cation channel, suggesting the involvement of one or more "odorant" receptors in AWC ON mechanotransduction. In many cases, the responses show plateau properties resembling bistable calcium dynamics where neurons can switch from one stable state to the other. To invest...

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Hierarchical sparse coding in the sensory system of Caenorhabditis elegans

Cited by 104 publications

References 36 publications

Distinct Circuits for the Formation and Retrieval of an Imprinted Olfactory Memory

Distinct Circuits for the Formation and Retrieval of an Imprinted Olfactory Memory

Olfactory circuits and behaviors of nematodes

A Shearless Microfluidic Device Detects a Role in Mechanosensitivity for AWC^ON Neuron in Caenorhabditis elegans

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Hierarchical sparse coding in the sensory system of Caenorhabditis elegans

Cited by 104 publications

References 36 publications

Distinct Circuits for the Formation and Retrieval of an Imprinted Olfactory Memory

Distinct Circuits for the Formation and Retrieval of an Imprinted Olfactory Memory

Olfactory circuits and behaviors of nematodes

A Shearless Microfluidic Device Detects a Role in Mechanosensitivity for AWCON Neuron in Caenorhabditis elegans

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A Shearless Microfluidic Device Detects a Role in Mechanosensitivity for AWC^ON Neuron in Caenorhabditis elegans