Computational protocol for quantifying body-bending amplitude and period in Caenorhabditis elegans

The amplitude and period of body bending during locomotion are key quantitative parameters that describe the locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans . Here, we present a computational workflow for calculating these parameters from centroid trajectory data using a custom Python function. We describe steps for integrating trajectory smoothing, signal transformation, and peak detection to extract robust amplitude and period estimates. We include representative figures of raw and processed trajectories to illustrate each analytical step. • A protocol for quantifying locomotion from centroid trajectories • Steps for extracting bending amplitude and period • Instructions for baseline smoothing and peak detection • Guidance on automated batch analysis of worm trajectories Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics. The amplitude and period of body bending during locomotion are key quantitative parameters that describe the locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans . Here, we present a computational workflow for calculating these parameters from centroid trajectory data using a custom Python function. We describe steps for integrating trajectory smoothing, signal transformation, and peak detection to extract robust amplitude and period estimates. We include representative figures of raw and processed trajectories to illustrate each analytical step.