MEMS-based force-clamp analysis of the role of body stiffness in C. elegans touch sensation.

ABSTRACT: Touch is enabled by mechanoreceptor neurons in the skin and plays an essential role in our everyday lives, but is among the least understood of our five basic senses. Force applied to the skin deforms these neurons and activates ion channels within them. Despite the importance of the mechanics of the skin in determining mechanoreceptor neuron deformation and ultimately touch sensation, the role of mechanics in touch sensitivity is poorly understood. Here, we use the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to directly test the hypothesis that body mechanics modulate touch sensitivity. We demonstrate a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based force clamp that can apply calibrated forces to freely crawling C. elegans worms and measure touch-evoked avoidance responses. This approach reveals th

SUBMITTER: Petzold BC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3701114 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature