Behavioral Tests for Associative Learning in Caenorhabditis elegans

Aelon Rahmani, Anna McMillen, Ericka Allen, Caitlin Minervini, Yee Lian Chew

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
3 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Learning is critical for survival as it provides the capacity to adapt to a changing environment. At the molecular and cellular level, learning leads to alterations within neural circuits that include synaptic rewiring, synaptic plasticity, and protein level/gene expression changes. There has been substantial progress in recent years on dissecting how learning and memory is regulated at the molecular and cellular level, including the use of compact invertebrate nervous systems as experimental models. This progress has been facilitated by the establishment of robust behavioral assays that generate a quantifiable readout of the extent to which animals learn and remember. This chapter will focus on protocols of behavioral tests for associative learning using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, with its unparalleled genetic tractability, compact nervous system of ~300 neurons, high level of conservation with mammalian systems, and amenability to a suite of behavioral tools and analyses. Specifically, we will provide a detailed description of the methods for two behavioral assays that model associative learning, one measuring appetitive olfactory learning and the other assaying aversive gustatory learning.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNeurobiology
Subtitle of host publicationMethods and Protocols
EditorsSebastian Dworkin
Place of PublicationNew York, NY
PublisherSpringer Link
Chapter2
Pages21-46
Number of pages26
Volume2746
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-0716-3585-8
ISBN (Print)978-1-0716-3584-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Publication series

NameMethods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
PublisherSpringer Link
ISSN (Print)1064-3745
ISSN (Electronic)1940-6029

Keywords

  • Associative learning
  • Behavior teKey wordssts
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Chemotaxis
  • Classical conditioning
  • Memory
  • Olfaction
  • Taste/gustation

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