# Associative learning by C. elegans is variable when butanone is paired with starvation

## TL;DR

The study shows that C. elegans worms show inconsistent learning when butanone is paired with starvation, suggesting that such learning might be rare in natural environments.

## Contribution

The study reveals unexplained variability in associative learning in C. elegans when exposed to butanone and starvation.

## Key findings

- Pre-exposure to butanone with starvation led to inconsistent chemotaxis responses in C. elegans.
- Variability in associative learning was observed despite controlled laboratory conditions.
- The findings suggest that associative learning in natural environments may be rare.

## Abstract

The nematode

C. elegans

has been reported to show a reduction in its preference for the odorant
butanone
after prior exposure to
butanone
coupled with starvation. Here we report unexplained variability in such associative learning. Pre-exposure of unfed worms to
butanone
resulted in different responses during different trials of subsequent chemotaxis assays – from strong avoidance to enhanced attraction. Given this variation in associative learning despite the artificially controlled lab setting, we speculate that in dynamic natural environments such learning might be rare and highlight the challenge in discovering evolutionarily selected mechanisms that could underlie learning in the wild.