MIT's Groundbreaking Research Unlocks the Secrets of Individual Neurons and Behavior

MIT researchers have studied a single neuron in the C. elegans worm and discovered its role in regulating multiple behaviors. The neuron, known as HSN, uses various neurotransmitters and can "borrow" serotonin from other neurons, shedding light on potential psychiatric treatments in more complex organisms. The study reveals how a single neuron can influence a broad range of behaviors over multiple timescales and demonstrates that neurons can share serotonin to control behavior. The findings also highlight the complexity of neuronal connections and neurotransmitter systems in orchestrating behavior.