Caenorhabditis elegans learning in a structured maze is a multisensory behavior
Eleni Gourgou,
Kavya Adiga,
Anne Goettemoeller,
Chieh Chen,
Ao-Lin Hsu
Affiliations
Eleni Gourgou
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 41809, USA; Corresponding author
Kavya Adiga
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 41809, USA
Anne Goettemoeller
Neuroscience Program, College of Literature, Science and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 41809, USA
Chieh Chen
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, 112 Taiwan
Ao-Lin Hsu
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 41809, USA; Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, 112 Taiwan; Research Center for Healthy Aging and Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; Corresponding author
Summary: We show that C. elegans nematodes learn to associate food with a combination of proprioceptive cues and information on the structure of their surroundings (maze), perceived through mechanosensation. By using the custom-made Worm-Maze platform, we demonstrate that C. elegans young adults can locate food in T-shaped mazes and, following that experience, learn to reach a specific maze arm. C. elegans learning inside the maze is possible after a single training session, it resembles working memory, and it prevails over conflicting environmental cues. We provide evidence that the observed learning is a food-triggered multisensory behavior, which requires mechanosensory and proprioceptive input, and utilizes cues about the structural features of nematodes' environment and their body actions. The CREB-like transcription factor and dopamine signaling are also involved in maze performance. Lastly, we show that the observed aging-driven decline of C. elegans learning ability in the maze can be reversed by starvation.
