Calcium dynamics regulating the timing of decision-making in C. elegans

Brains regulate behavioral responses with distinct timings. Here we investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the timing of decision-making during olfactory navigation in . We find that, based on subtle changes in odor concentrations, the animals appear to choose the appropriate m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:eLife 2017-05, Vol.6
Main Authors: Tanimoto, Yuki, Yamazoe-Umemoto, Akiko, Fujita, Kosuke, Kawazoe, Yuya, Miyanishi, Yosuke, Yamazaki, Shuhei J, Fei, Xianfeng, Busch, Karl Emanuel, Gengyo-Ando, Keiko, Nakai, Junichi, Iino, Yuichi, Iwasaki, Yuishi, Hashimoto, Koichi, Kimura, Koutarou D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bearings
Behavior
Behavior, Animal
Caenorhabditis elegans - physiology
Calcium (intracellular)
Calcium - metabolism
Calcium channels
Calcium channels (L-type)
Calcium channels (voltage-gated)
Calcium Channels - metabolism
calcium imaging
Calcium signalling
Clinical decision making
Decision Making
Drosophila
Insects
mathematical modeling
molecular genetics
Molecular modelling
navigation
Neurons
Neuroscience
Odor
olfaction
Olfactory neurons
Pain perception
Physiology
Science
Smell
Spatial Navigation
Time Factors
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Summary:Brains regulate behavioral responses with distinct timings. Here we investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the timing of decision-making during olfactory navigation in . We find that, based on subtle changes in odor concentrations, the animals appear to choose the appropriate migratory direction from multiple trials as a form of behavioral decision-making. Through optophysiological, mathematical and genetic analyses of neural activity under virtual odor gradients, we further find that odor concentration information is temporally integrated for a decision by a gradual increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca ] ), which occurs via L-type voltage-gated calcium channels in a pair of olfactory neurons. In contrast, for a reflex-like behavioral response, [Ca ] rapidly increases via multiple types of calcium channels in a pair of nociceptive neurons. Thus, the timing of neuronal responses is determined by cell type-dependent involvement of calcium channels, which may serve as a cellular basis for decision-making.
ISSN:2050-084X
2050-084X
DOI:10.7554/elife.21629