Optogenetic approaches have proven powerful for examining the role of neural circuits in generating behaviors, especially in systems where electrophysiological manipulation is not possible. Here we describe a method for optogenetically manipulating single pharyngeal neurons in intact C. elegans while monitoring pharyngeal behavior. This approach provides bidirectional and dynamic control of pharyngeal neural activity simultaneously with a behavioral readout and has allowed us to test hypotheses about the roles of individual pharyngeal neurons in regulating feeding behavior.
Keywords: C. elegans; Feeding behavior; In vivo optogenetics; Optogenetics; Pharynx; Small circuits.