The goal of this research group is to understand the mechanisms by which the nervous system processes environmental information and generates adaptive behavior at the molecular level. To this end, we are investigating the chemosensation of the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a model system that is well-suited for the molecular, cellular, and genetic analysis of neural functions.
C. elegans exhibits attraction or avoidance to a range of water-soluble (taste) and volatile (odor) chemicals. It also demonstrates significant behavioral plasticity to these chemicals in an experience-dependent manner, suggesting that its nervous system memorizes previous conditions and modifies subsequent behaviors to reach preferable environments. For example, animals cultivated at a particular salt concentration with food display a strong preference for that salt concentration. In contrast, those subjected to starvation during cultivation show an aversion to the salt concentration. We are investigating this behavior to elucidate the neural basis of learning and memory. To do this, we employ knowledge and techniques from molecular cell biology, genetics, neurobiology, live imaging, optogenetics, and behavioral analysis.