Bounded rationality in C. elegans is explained by circuit-specific normalization in chemosensory pathways

Dror Cohen, Guy Teichman, Meshi Volovich, Yoav Zeevi, Lilach Elbaum, Asaf Madar, Kenway Louie, Dino J. Levy () and Oded Rechavi ()
Additional contact information
Dror Cohen: Tel Aviv University
Guy Teichman: Tel Aviv University
Meshi Volovich: Tel Aviv University
Yoav Zeevi: Tel Aviv University
Lilach Elbaum: Tel Aviv University
Asaf Madar: Tel Aviv University
Kenway Louie: New York University
Dino J. Levy: Tel Aviv University
Oded Rechavi: Tel Aviv University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Rational choice theory assumes optimality in decision-making. Violations of a basic axiom of economic rationality known as “Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives” (IIA) have been demonstrated in both humans and animals and could stem from common neuronal constraints. Here we develop tests for IIA in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, an animal with only 302 neurons, using olfactory chemotaxis assays. We find that in most cases C. elegans make rational decisions. However, by probing multiple neuronal architectures using various choice sets, we show that violations of rationality arise when the circuit of olfactory sensory neurons is asymmetric. We further show that genetic manipulations of the asymmetry between the AWC neurons can make the worm irrational. Last, a context-dependent normalization-based model of value coding and gain control explains how particular neuronal constraints on information coding give rise to irrationality. Thus, we demonstrate that bounded rationality could arise due to basic neuronal constraints.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11715-7

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