Title |
An Image-Free Opto-Mechanical System for Creating Virtual Environments and Imaging Neuronal Activity in Freely Moving Caenorhabditis elegans
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Published in |
PLOS ONE, September 2011
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DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0024666 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Serge Faumont, Gary Rondeau, Tod R. Thiele, Kristy J. Lawton, Kathryn E. McCormick, Matthew Sottile, Oliver Griesbeck, Ellie S. Heckscher, William M. Roberts, Chris Q. Doe, Shawn R. Lockery |
Abstract |
Non-invasive recording in untethered animals is arguably the ultimate step in the analysis of neuronal function, but such recordings remain elusive. To address this problem, we devised a system that tracks neuron-sized fluorescent targets in real time. The system can be used to create virtual environments by optogenetic activation of sensory neurons, or to image activity in identified neurons at high magnification. By recording activity in neurons of freely moving C. elegans, we tested the long-standing hypothesis that forward and reverse locomotion are generated by distinct neuronal circuits. Surprisingly, we found motor neurons that are active during both types of locomotion, suggesting a new model of locomotion control in C. elegans. These results emphasize the importance of recording neuronal activity in freely moving animals and significantly expand the potential of imaging techniques by providing a mean to stabilize fluorescent targets. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 6 | 3% |
United Kingdom | 2 | 1% |
Austria | 1 | <1% |
Japan | 1 | <1% |
Netherlands | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 171 | 94% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 58 | 32% |
Researcher | 34 | 19% |
Student > Master | 19 | 10% |
Student > Bachelor | 13 | 7% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 12 | 7% |
Other | 25 | 14% |
Unknown | 21 | 12% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 73 | 40% |
Neuroscience | 24 | 13% |
Engineering | 18 | 10% |
Physics and Astronomy | 14 | 8% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 11 | 6% |
Other | 20 | 11% |
Unknown | 22 | 12% |