Contributions of Superior and Inferior Tentacles to Learned Food-Avoidance Behavior in Limax marginatus

Abstract

We investigated learned food-avoidance behavior of conditioned slugs in detail, and examined the effect of removing the inferior or superior tentacles (ITs and STs) on the avoidance behavior. The conditioning procedure significantly lowered the preference level of slugs to the conditioned odor, and the decrease of the preference was maintained for at least 48 hr. Video analysis experiments showed that change in the crawling direction during an aversion response occurred consistently accompanied by an average of 1.2 head swings. The first head swing was usually observed within 1 cm from the conditioned odor. Removal of the ITs after conditioning reversed the trend towards a lowered preference level. On the other hand, removal of the STs did not change the level. These results suggest that the IT inputs are needed to induce conditioned behavior. The contribution of STs to the conditioning behavior is indicated by the significant increase in the average number of head swings (3.6 swings) in a trial after their removal. In some trials, the slugs lacking STs avoided the odor source after crossing it. These observations indicate that removal of STs decreases the orientation ability of conditioned slugs.