Simultaneous optogenetic manipulation and calcium imaging in freely moving C. elegans

A fundamental goal of systems neuroscience is to probe the dynamics of neural activity that drive behavior. Here we present an instrument to simultaneously manipulate neural activity via Channelrhodopsin, monitor neural response via GCaMP3, and observe behavior in freely moving C. elegans. We use the instrument to directly observe the relation between sensory stimuli, interneuron activity and locomotion in the mechanosensory circuit.