Correlated receptor and motorneuron changes during retention of associative learning of Hermissenda crassicornis

Abstract

1. 1. Responses to light of an identified motorneuron (LP1) were recorded simultaneously with those of an identified Hermissenda photoreceptor (the lateral Type B) following three days of training with paired light and rotation. 2. 2. These responses were significantly different when compared to responses of cells from animals trained with unpaired stimuli and from naive animals. i]3. The differences of the LP1 responses can be explained as a consequence of the photoreceptor response changes. 3. 4. The same training with paired stimuli has been shown to produce behavioural changes which satisfy criteria for vertebrate associative learning. 4. 5. The observed neural correlates are consistent with previous findings which indicate that membrane changes within the Type B cell bodies play a causal role in associative learning of the nudibranch mollusc, Hermissenda crassicornis.