Any variation in the muscle contractions that control feeding compared to control. Contractions are necessary for bacterial uptake from the surrounding environment.
Variations in the rhythmic contractions of the posterior pharynx (terminal bulb), such as timing, strength etc. In C. elegans contraction of the terminal bulb inverts the grinder, allowing bacteria in front of the grinder to be broken up and transported to the intestine.
Electropharyngeograms do not show a similar pattern as control animals. C. elegans animals show a repeating regular pattern in which each pump is associated with an excitatory depolarizing wave, often punctuated by brief negative spikes, followed by a plateau phase, and ending with an inhibitory hyperpolarizing wave.
The time in which a muscle contraction event that controls feeding is increased compared to control. Contractions of the pharynx are necessary for bacterial uptake from the surrounding environment.
