Starvation transforms signal encoding in C. elegans thermoresponsive neurons and suppresses heat avoidance via bidirectional glutamatergic and peptidergic signaling.

Starvation causes a near-complete suppression of heat-evoked reversals in Caenorhabditis elegans by altering AWC neuron responses and neuropeptide signaling.

• Why it matters: Understanding how internal nutritional states influence sensory processing and behavior is crucial for comprehending adaptive responses in animals. This work addresses the gap in knowledge about neural circuit modulation by starvation in C. elegans.
• What they did: The study examined the effects of early (1 hr) and prolonged (6 hr) food deprivation on thermoresponsive neurons, using calcium imaging and neuropeptide signaling analysis, revealing changes in AWC neuron responses and circuit modulation.
• The result: Starvation shifts AWC calcium responses from excitatory to mixed patterns, with neuropeptide signals from ASI neurons switching from promoting to inhibiting reversals, enabling internal state-dependent behavioral suppression.