Behavior is shaped by responses to environmental cues and the internal state of the animal. As such, it can be instructive of physiology, drug response, gene function, and even developmental timing. In the past decade, computer vision has proven to be a powerful tool for collecting large volumes of behavioral data and carrying out studies not feasible previously. To utilize this technology in C. elegans, we have constructed a high-throughput temperature-controlled recording system.

The Observatory consists of 4 height-adjustable cage units, each containing 4 20-MP cameras, a collimated light source, and a dedicated computer. Situated inside an incubator independently, the cages can be removed, adjusted, or used in shared or separate experiments, including optogenetic applications. Simultaneous recording capture as many as ~1,500 worms. The setup supports recordings of over 100 hours with the resolution of ~25 μm/pixel. Collected videos are processed via custom OpenCV Python codes tracking movement and body size [github].

You can see a sample 20x accelerated 10-minute recording below:

We utilize this powerful tool to, among other things, measure developmental timing in response to environmental conditions, study exploratory behavior, and conduct large-scale screens.

We actively seek talented and motivated researchers (postdocs, technicians, and undergraduates) to join our effort. If interested, contact Ilya directly.