Neural sensing of surface traction modulates proprioceptive activity and locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans
Aleksandra Pidde, Montserrat Porta-de-la-Riva, Costanza Agazzi, Carmen Martínez-Fernández, Al-ice Lorrach, Ashutosh Bijalwan, Neus Sanfeliu-Cerdán, Alba Calatayud-Sanchez, Eric Torralba-Sales, Ravi Das, José J. Muñoz, Michael Krieg
This study shows that touch receptors in C. elegans detect surface traction, influencing proprioception and locomotion through MEC-4 channel activity and friction force.
bioRxiv · Mar 7, 2026 · PreprintNeuroscience