Data from: 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 Caenorhabditis elegans. 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 ([Ca2+]i), which occurs via L-type voltage-gated calcium channels in a pair of olfactory neurons. In contrast, for a reflex-like behavioral response, [Ca2+]i 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.

Usage notes;
The data of 100 worms during odor avoidance behavior.
The Excel sheets contains x and y positions (mm), the odor concentration at the position (micro-M) and the behavioral states (Run or Pirouette) of 100 animals during 121-720 s of the odor avoidance assay. This dataset was used in Figures 1 and 2.
Tanimoto_100worms_v2.xlsx

Tanimoto, Yuki; Yamazoe-Umemoto, Akiko; Fujita, Kosuke et al. (2018). Data from: Calcium dynamics regulating the timing of decision-making in C. elegans [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h3680