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Fig. 8 | BMC Biology

Fig. 8

From: Toxic stress-specific cytoprotective responses regulate learned behavioral decisions in C. elegans

Fig. 8

Reinforcement of stress-associated experiences forms distinctive avoidant and coping memories. a Experimental design for spaced training (ST) using toxic odors. Animals were exposed to a hanging drop of undiluted odor (2 μl ccBA or 4 μl ccDA, preconditioned, PC) or vehicle (naive) using a 4 × 1-h spaced training protocol with 10-min inter-trial “rest” times during the washing step. Animals were assayed for food aversion or odor preference immediately or after a 2-h recovery period. b Effect of a 2-h recovery period on ccBA-induced food aversion elicited by ccBA preconditioning using single 2-h (2-h PC) or 4-h (4-h PC) exposures. c Effect of a 2-h recovery period on ccBA-induced food aversion elicited by ccBA spaced training. d Effect of a 2-h recovery period on lawn avoidance in the presence of 1% DA elicited by ccDA spaced training. e Effect of a 2-h recovery period on odor choice between 1% BA and DA elicited by ccBA spaced training. Choice indices were calculated as CI = (# on BA − # on DA)/(# on BA + # on DA). f Learning indices from e, calculated as LI = CI (naive) − CI (preconditioned). Error bars represent mean ± SEM. N, number of independent experiments. p values were obtained by one-way ANOVA (for food leaving assays) and by two-way ANOVA (for odor choice assays) with Fisher’s LSD post hoc test.t. n.s., not significant; **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001

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