Modeling the thermotaxis behavior of C.elegans based on the artificial neural network

Bioengineered. 2016 Jul 3;7(4):253-60. doi: 10.1080/21655979.2016.1197709.

Abstract

ASBTRACT This research aims at modeling the thermotaxis behavior of C.elegans which is a kind of nematode with full clarified neuronal connections. Firstly, this work establishes the motion model which can perform the undulatory locomotion with turning behavior. Secondly, the thermotaxis behavior is modeled by nonlinear functions and the nonlinear functions are learned by artificial neural network. Once the artificial neural networks have been well trained, they can perform the desired thermotaxis behavior. Last, several testing simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the model for thermotaxis behavior. This work also analyzes the different performances of the model under different environments. The testing results reveal the essence of the thermotaxis of C.elegans to some extent, and theoretically support the research on the navigation of the crawling robots.

Keywords: C.elegans; deflection angle; artificial neural network; optimum temperature; thermotaxis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
  • Locomotion
  • Models, Biological*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Neural Networks, Computer*
  • Taxis Response / physiology*
  • Temperature*