Brain, behaviour and learning
Sea Hares, in particular Aplysia californica and more recently Pleurobranchaea californica have become important laboratory animals in the study of learning and behaviour. They are particu;arly valuable because they have a relatively simple nervous system and 'brain' with extremely large nerve cells which can be individually mapped. I have placed general and specific queries about these topics and this research here.
Authorship detailsRudman, W.B., 2001 (July 5) Brain, behaviour and learning. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/brain
Related messages
Is Aplysia able to err?
June 6, 2006
From: Diana Winter
Hello.
I am writing a term-paper about "The intentional animal" by J.Proust. She uses an example of Aplysia. There she states that Aplysia has not the sufficient neuronal structure to differentiate its own inner (mental) states from the representation of these states. I read that Aplysia has big neurons and is able to learn in different ways (non-associativley and associatively). I am wondering what the detailed neuronal structure of Aplysia is and if Aplysia would be able to err, so to say to work in a wrong way!? Please help me finding a solution.
Thank you in advance.
Kind regards,
Diana Winter
University of Osnabrück,
Cognitive Science
Germany
diwinter@uos.de
Winter, D., 2006 (Jun 6) Is Aplysia able to err?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16789Dear Diana,
As a Sea Slug enthusiast, my first response would be to say that Sea Hares can do no wrong. It seems to me that your question is a philosophical question, probably not answerable by scientific research. There are two books by Nobel Prize winner Eric Kandel which are the basis of much of our knowledge on the neuronal structure of Aplysia. They are now almost 30 years old, but I don't think the anatomical arangement of ganglia will have changed in that time. Also have a look at my answer to an earlier query [message #9160] which gives links to a couple of excellent sites which should be of use to you.
I must admit that like the humble Sea Hare, I don't think I have 'sufficient neuronal structure' to really understand the long-standing philosophical debate concerning consciousness and intentionality.
- Kandel, E.R. (1979): Behavioural Biology of Aplysia. San Francisco, W.H.Freeman & Co. 1- 463.
- Kandel, E.R. (1976): Cellular Basis of Behaviour. An introduction to behavioural neurobiology. W.H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco. 1 - 727.
Good Luck,
Bill Rudman
Learning by cannibalism
May 7, 2005
From: Paul K Bohlander
My friend believes that a study has been done where a sea slug was sent through a maze repeatedly until it had memorized the directions from start to finish. The sea slug was then diced up and fed to another sea slug and my "friend" claims that the second sea slug was able to find its way through the maze immediately. Please support my argument that he is simply crazy.
Lewisburg. PA,
USA
Paul K Bohlander
pbohland@bucknell.edu
Bohlander, P.K., 2005 (May 7) Learning by cannibalism. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13724Dear Paul,
This was first discussed on the Forum in 1999! Have a look at message #10192 which includes a link to a article where the research is discussed. It involved planarian flatworms rather than sea slugs. I guess if you believe the results and want to better yourself you should consider eating your friend.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Training sea slugs
June 10, 2003
From: Charles Sohl
Dr Bill -
There was a question posed on your Sea Slug Forum about training sea slugs, chopping them up and feeding them to other sea slugs who would then some how "learn" what the trained slugs had learned.
This was a controversial topic in the 1960 - 1970s see http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/essays/v2p366y1974-76.pdf
I gather it was so politically incorrect that it was never properly evaluated. I have a book of science essays, one of which addresses the issue. I could send you a copy if you like.
Charlie
sohl@ip-lawyers.com
Sohl, C. , 2003 (Jun 10) Training sea slugs. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10192Dear Charlie,
Thanks for reference. I guess you are referring to Matthew Harvey's message from 1999. I'm glad that old questions don't fade a way.
The work you refer to is probably the work I was referring to, so thanks very much for the references. The pdf file you refer to seems to be from Current Contents, v43, p.5-9, October 27, 1975. Among other references, the McConnell (1962) reference seems to refer to the 'worm runners' work of the late 1950s. Of course I shouldn't be posting all this because it refers to flatworms not opisthobranchs - but it is interesting.
• McConnell JV. (1962) Memory transfer through cannibalism in planarians. Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 3: 42-48, 1962.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Computer based model of Aplysia learning
May 14, 2003
From: Igal Raichelgauz
Hi,
We are 3 students from Technion trying to find a computer based model of neural network in charge of learning (habituation & sensitization) in Aplysia. If you are familiar with such a model, please refer us to.
Thank you,
Igal.
sigalr@t2.technion.ac.il
Dear Igal,
Have a look at my reply to an earlier message, and Cynthia Trowbridge's message. In the first I give the location of one computer model. If you find any other computer based models, please let us know so we can help other students in the future
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Learning mechanisms in Aplysia
February 7, 2003
From: Jose L. Cantero
Hello,
I am preparing some university classes about neural basis of learning in both vertebrates and invertebrates, and I would love to illustrate these classes with digital videos containing Aplysia behaviours during non-associative and associative learning paradigms. It would be great if somebody could provide me with some information about where to find these video files.
Thanks in advance.
Jose L. Cantero
jlcanlor@dex.upo.es
Dear Jose,
I would be interested in knowing if such films videos existed myself. Perhaps someone can help.
Björn Brembs has an excellent site on Learning and memory in Aplysia which is well worth a visit. Apart from being a mine of infromation on the topic there is a video on biting behaviour.
Dr. Rhanor Gillette's research group [Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Center of Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] has a website called Slug City at http://www.life.uiuc.edu/r-gillette/. It has some behavioural videos, but they are of the carnivorous opisthobranch Pleurobranchaea.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Behavioural patterns in species of Chromodoris
January 1, 2003
From: David Thompson
Dear Bill
I am a 3rd yr marine biology student doing a project on the behavioural patterns of 4 species of Chromodoris (C. willani, C. lochi, C. annae and C. magnifica), I have had great trouble finding journals to read for this project and would be eternally grateful if you can give me a few references.
Thank you
David Thompson
diverdavid@ntlworld.com
Thompson, D., 2003 (Jan 1) Behavioural patterns in species of Chromodoris. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8734Dear David,
Whose idea was the topic? I'm afraid I don't know of any research on behaviour patterns in these species, or any species of Chromodoris. I would certainly be very interested if anyone does know of any publications on the topic.
Sorry,
Bill Rudman
Re: Sea slug nervous system - computer model
July 6, 2001
From: Cynthia Trowbridge
Dear Bill,
George J. Mpitsos at Oregon State University has many papers on the topic of opisthobranch brain functions and computer simulation models.
Contact Information:
Hatfield Marine Science Center
Newport, Oregon 97365
gmpitsos@slugo.hmsc.orst.edu
Dr. Mpitsos' research is concerned with neurophysiology and neuropharmacology of behavior and associative learning in molluscs. His studies involve the role of chaos and other forms of variability in the self-organization of adaptive behavior. His experiments combine biological and computer simulation studies.
Some of his papers:
• Mpitsos, G.J. "Attractor gradients: Architects of developmental organization." In: Identified Neurons: Twenty-Five Years of Progress, Leonard JL, (Ed), Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA (1996). In press.
• Andrade, M.A., J.C. Nuño, F. Moran, F. Montero, G.J. Mpitsos. "Complex dynamics of a catalytic network having faulty replication into an error species." Phys. D. (1993) 63:21-40.
• Mpitsos G.J., S. Soinila. "In search of a unifying theory of biological organization: What does the motor system of a sea slug tell us about human motor integration?" In: Variability and Motor Control, J.M. Newell and D. Corcos (Eds), Human Kinetics, Champaign (1993) pp 225-290.
• Burton, R.M., G.J. Mpitsos. "Event-dependent control of noise enhances learning in neural networks." Neural Networks (1992) 5:627-637.
• Mpitsos G.J., R.M. Burton. "Convergence and divergence in neural networks: Processing of chaos and biological analogy." Neural Networks (1992) 5:605-625.
• Soinila S., G.J. Mpitsos. "Immunohistochemistry of diverging and converging neurotransmitter systems in molluscs." Biol. Bull. (1991) 181:484-499.
• Soinila S., G.J. Mpitsos, J. Soinila. "Enkephalin immunohistochemistry: Model studies on conjugation reaction and fixation." J. Histochem. Cytochem. (1992) 40:231-239.
• Mpitsos, G.J. "Chaos in brain function and the problem of non-stationarity: A commentary." In: Dynamics of Sensory and Cognitive Processing by the Brain, E. Basar and T.H. Bullock (Eds.), Springer-Verlag, New York (1989) pp 521-535.
• Mpitsos, G.J., T.F. Murray, H.C. Creech, D.L. Barker. "Muscarinic antagonist enhances one-trial food-aversion learning in Pleurobranchaea." Brain Research Bulletin (1988) 21:169-179.
• Mpitsos, G.J., R.M. Burton, H.C. Creech and S.O. Soinila. "Evidence for chaos in spike trains of neurons that generate rhythmic motor patterns." Brain Research Bulletin (1988) 21:529-538.
• Mpitsos, G.J., R.M. Burton, H.C. Creech, and S.O. Soinila. "Connectionist networks learn to transmit chaos." Brain Research Bulletin (1988). In press.
• Mpitsos, G.J., H.C. Creech, C.S. Cohan, and M. Mendelson. "Variability and chaos: Neurointegrative principles in self-organization of motor patterns." In: Dynamic Patterns in Complex Systems, J.A.S. Kelso, A. Mandell, and M.F. Shlesinger (Eds.), World Scientific Press, Singapore, NJ (1988) 162-190.
• Mpitsos, G.J., T.F. Murray, H.C. Creech, and D.L. Barker. "Muscarinic cholinrgic action in one-trial food-aversion conditioning: Scopolamine enhances experimental-control differences in the mollusc Pleurobranchaea." Brain Research Bulletin (1988). In press.
• Murray, T.F., and G.J. Mpitsos. "Evidence for heterogeneity of muscarinic receptors in the mollusc Pleurobranchaea." Brain Research Bulletin (1988). In press.
Hope this helps.
Cordially,
CynthiaHatfield Marine Science Center,
trowbric@ucs.orst.edu
Trowbridge, C., 2001 (Jul 6) Re: Sea slug nervous system - computer model. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4749Thanks Cynthia,
Bill Rudman
Sea slug nervous system - computer model
July 3, 2001
From: Linette Koren
Dear Bill:
I am a reference librarian who is searching for some information for a faculty member. This Computer Science faculty member is looking for any information (peer-reviewed article, I hope!) that talks about a computer model of the nervous system of a sea slug or flatworm. He says people talk about it like it exists but no one can provide a reference to it. I've searched quite a few databases and cannot locate anything that's even remotely close. I've looked in the science, computer science, engineering, and biomedical literature. He's beginning to believe that its existence is some kind of hoax or urban legend in the field.
Any help you or your Forum readers can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Linette Koren
Computer Science/Engineering Librarian
Rochester Institute of Technology
lxkwml@rit.edu
Koren, L., 2001 (Jul 3) Sea slug nervous system - computer model. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4690Dear Linette,
Dr. Rhanor Gillette's research group [Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Center of Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] has a website called Slug City at http://www.life.uiuc.edu/r-gillette/.
If you go to the Models page on that site you can download a copy of their Optimal Foraging Simulation program for the cyberslug Cyberbranchaea. The name is a play on the name of the real carnivorous slug they have studied, Pleurobranchaea californica.
I guess its the Cyberbranchaea simulation that your faculty member is interested in. Not a peer-reviewed paper but the real thing which they can review themselves.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Question about Sea Slug learning abilities
July 22, 1999
From: Matthew Harvey
This is a question from somebody who knows not a thing about sea slugs, but who recently attended a talk where I learnt a most incredible thing. It was claimed that if slug A learns a maze and is then chopped up and fed to slug B, slug B will 'know' the maze and can locate food with no conditioning period necessary. I (as only a psychology teacher & student) cannot imagine a mechanism which would allow this. Was I mislead or is this really the case? I'm dying to find out since such a phenomena would be truly remarkable.
Thank you in anticipation.
Matthew Harvey
psmmh@bath.ac.uk
Harvey, M., 1999 (Jul 22) Question about Sea Slug learning abilities. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1092Dear Matthew,
I answer as someone who knows little about recent research on learning! I think your speaker was referring to planarian flatworms. I can vaguely remember 30 years ago a group having their own 'journal' which I think was called the 'Worm Runners Digest' in which they were publishing results of what they considered heretical research showing that chopping up trained flatworms and feeding them to untrained flatworms decreased the time novices needed to learn their tasks. As my professor at the time grimly muttered 'if heathens learn of this they'll think they only need to eat missionaries to become Christians!'
Sea Hares have become very important lab animals for brain and learning research in recent years, but I don't think they are chopping them up. Have a look at my answer to Jonathan Choi's message where I list some publications and interesting websites on the subject.
If you do discover that Sea Slugs are in fact doing what you heard, could you let me know? It would be an interesting thing to have on the Forum.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
