Title: Genes, Neurons, Circuits and Behavior: An Integrated Approach in a Compact Brain

Abstract:

Behavior is variable, both within and between individuals. We use the nematode worm C. elegans to ask how genes, neurons, circuits, and the environment interact to give rise to flexible behaviors. This work has provided insights into four kinds of behavioral variability mediated by overlapping circuits: the gating of information flow by circuit state over seconds, the extrasynaptic regulation of circuits by neuropeptides and neuromodulators over minutes, the modification of behavior by learning over hours or days, and natural genetic variation across generations.