Species Hub/C. elegans/Touch Response (Mechanosensation)
Primary Assay C. elegans

Touch Response (Mechanosensation)

Caenorhabditis elegans

Gentle touch to the anterior body triggers backward locomotion; posterior touch triggers forward movement. Response decrement with repeated stimulation measures habituation. Six identified touch receptor neurons.

C. elegans — Touch Response (Mechanosensation)

Measured Parameters

Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Caenorhabditis elegans.

ParameterUnitDescription
Response probability%Fraction of touches eliciting reversal
Response typecategoricalFull reversal, partial, or no response
Reversal distancebody lengthsBackward movement after touch
Habituation rateslopeResponse decrement across 10 touches
Habituation recovery%Response restoration after rest

Citations for Touch Response (Mechanosensation)

  1. Chalfie M, Bhatt DK. (1985). Genetic control of differentiation of the Caenorhabditis elegans touch receptor neurons. Science, 228(4700), 577-580. PMID: 3983045
  2. Rankin CH, Beck CD, Bhatt DK. (1990). Caenorhabditis elegans: a new model system for the study of learning and memory. Behav Brain Res, 37(1), 89-92. PMID: 2310495

Hardware for C. elegans Research

Worm Tracking Camera System

Automated locomotion and behavior

Chemotaxis Assay Plates

Olfactory and gustatory assays

Thermal Gradient Plate

Thermotaxis

Thrashing Assay Chamber

Neuromuscular function in liquid

Touch Stimulation Probe

Mechanosensation

Run Touch Response (Mechanosensation) on ConductVision

Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your c. elegans facility.