Calcium dynamics regulating the timing of decision-making in .

Brains regulate behavioral responses with distinct timings. Here we investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the timing of decision-making during olfactory navigation in . We find that, based on subtle changes in odor concentrations, the animals appear to choose the appropriate migratory direction from multiple trials as a form of behavioral decision-making.

A simple optogenetic system for behavioral analysis of freely moving small animals.

We present a new and simple optogenetic system for the behavioral analysis of small animals. This system includes a strong LED ring array, a high-resolution CCD camera, and the improved channelrhodopsin ChRGR. We used the system for behavioral analysis with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, and we found that it can stimulate ChRGR expressed in the body wall muscles of the animals to modulate the behavior.