Automated Recognition and Analysis of Escape Response in Caenorhabditis Elegans

Significant progress in medical research in recent years has led to the successful treatment of numerous illnesses. Unfortunately, effective treatments for several neurological disorders-particularly those affecting motor neurons-remain elusive, not only significantly impairing patients' quality of life but also placing a substantial financial burden on both individuals and society. To address this gap, scientists are focusing on model organisms to unravel pathogenic mechanisms and develop treatment strategies. Among various model organisms, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has shown special relevance in neurological disorder research. Escape responses, including reversals and omega turns, are controlled by motor neurons. Thus, the escape response in C. elegans provides researchers with a reliable observational metric to evaluate the functional state of motor neurons. We developed a head and tail position localization model to determine the positions of the nematode's head and tail, enabling automated counting of escape responses. We further clarified the association between escape response and motor neuron function by comparing the escape response of normal nematodes to those with motor neuron deficiencies. Consequently, the automated counting of C. elegans escape responses is a useful tool for assessing the health of motor neurons. It may offer strong backing for the exploration of neurodegenerative disease therapeutics.