Castellucci et al. (1970)

Neuronal Mechanisms of Habituation and Dishabituation of the Gill-Withdrawal Reflex in Aplysia

Science, 167(3926), 1745-1748

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DOI

Abstract

The cellular mechanisms of habituation and dishabituation of the gill-withdrawal reflex in Aplysia were studied with an isolated abdominal ganglion connected to a piece of skin from the tactile receptive field of the reflex. By obtaining simultaneous intracellular recordings from both the sensory neurons and one of the main identified motor neurons, we have been able to reduce the reflex to its monosynaptic components. The monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials showed a profound low-frequency depression when repeatedly elicited and showed heterosynaptic facilitation after application of a strong stimulus to another pathway. Thus, both habituation and dishabituation can be explained in part and perhaps entirely by changes in the efficacy of specific excitatory synapses.

Reference

Castellucci, V., Pinsker, H., Kupfermann, I., & Kandel, E. R. (1970). Neuronal Mechanisms of Habituation and Dishabituation of the Gill-Withdrawal Reflex in <i>Aplysia</i>. Science, 167(3926), 1745-1748. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.167.3926.1745

What Rests on This

1 mechanism cites this source. Each finding below is quoted as it appears on that mechanism's own page.

Non-Associative Learning Memory Systems

Neural substrate

In the sea slug Aplysia, habituation of the gill-withdrawal reflex was traced to weakening transmission at the synapse between sensory and motor neurons, and dishabituation to its restoration