Molecular Regulation of Foraging Behavior by the Nervous System

The brain’s ability to process sensory cues and adapt behavior occurs in virtually all animals and is crucial to survival. Understanding how individual neurons integrate multimodal inputs to orchestrate complex behaviors remains largely unknown. The goal of my work is to investigate molecular mechanisms regulating sensory input to a single neuron in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. The robust genetics, and invariant neural organization of C. elegans allows for single-neuron mechanistic investigation in intact, behaving animals. My project aims to uncover molecular regulators encoding foraging behavior. Upon immediate removal of food, animals engage in area-restricted search (ARS) behavior, characterized by increased turning events to maximize re-entry to food. Previous work in the Francis lab has demonstrated that the NLP-12 neuropeptide, released solely from the interneuron DVA, drives ARS. The lab has further suggested that dopaminergic signaling to the DVA couples to NLP-12 release, although a direct mechanism has not been elucidated. My preliminary data suggest that the TRPN (NOMPC) non-selective ion channel, TRP-4, potentially inhibits NLP- 12 release. This suggests that dopaminergic, and proprioceptive signaling via TRP-4, act antagonistically to modulate NLP-12 release and drive ARS. In Aim 1, I will investigate how dopaminergic signaling to the DVA drives DVA activity, NLP-12 release, and ARS. In Aim 2, I will uncover where TRP-4 regulates ARS, DVA activity, and NLP-12 release In Aim 3, I will investigate how disruptions in both dopaminergic and TRP-4 signaling regulate ARS, DVA activity and NLP-12 release. This project will define how sensory information encoding food availability and proprioceptive information are integrated to regulate neural activity, neuropeptide release, and behavior. Project Number: 1F31NS143315-01A1 | Fiscal Year: 2026 | NIH Institute/Center: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) | Principal Investigator: Hannah Rogers | Institution: UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER, WORCESTER, MA | Award Amount: $36,202 | Activity Code: F31 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 F01B-D (20)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11317809