Locomotion modulates olfactory learning through proprioception in C. elegans.
Nat Commun
; 14(1): 4534, 2023 07 27.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37500635
ABSTRACT
Locomotor activities can enhance learning, but the underlying circuit and synaptic mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we show that locomotion facilitates aversive olfactory learning in C. elegans by activating mechanoreceptors in motor neurons, and transmitting the proprioceptive information thus generated to locomotion interneurons through antidromic-rectifying gap junctions. The proprioceptive information serves to regulate experience-dependent activities and functional coupling of interneurons that process olfactory sensory information to produce the learning behavior. Genetic destruction of either the mechanoreceptors in motor neurons, the rectifying gap junctions between the motor neurons and locomotion interneurons, or specific inhibitory synapses among the interneurons impairs the aversive olfactory learning. We have thus uncovered an unexpected role of proprioception in a specific learning behavior as well as the circuit, synaptic, and gene bases for this function.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Caenorhabditis elegans
/
Gap Junctions
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article