MetaWorm: An Integrative Data-Driven Model SimulatingC. elegansBrain, Body and Environment Interactions

Abstract

The intricate interplay between an organism’s brain, body, and environment fundamentally shapes its behavior. Existing detailed models focusing on either the brain or the body-environment separately. A complete model that bridges these two components is yet to be developed. Here, we present MetaWorm, a data-driven model of a widely studied organism,C. elegans. This model consists of two sub-models: the brain model and the body & environment model. The brain model was built by multi-compartment models with realistic morphology, connectome, and neural population dynamics based on experimental data. Simultaneously, the body & environment model employed a lifelike body and a 3D physical environment, facilitating easy behavior quantification. Through the closed-loop interaction between two sub-models, MetaWorm faithfully reproduced the realistic zigzag movement towards attractors observed inC. elegans. Moreover, leveraging this model, we investigated the impact of neural system structure on both neural activities and behaviors. Consequently, MetaWorm can enhance our understanding of how the brain controls the body to interact with its surrounding environment.