Cellular analysis of long-term habituation of the gill-withdrawal reflex of Aplysia californica

Science. 1978 Dec 22;202(4374):1306-8. doi: 10.1126/science.214854.

Abstract

Long-term habituation training in Aplysia californica produces a profound depression in the efficacy of synaptic transmission between mechanoreceptor neurons and gill motor neurons. This depression persists for more than 3 weeks. Thus a critical synaptic site for plasticity underlying long-term habituation is the same as that for short-term habituation. For this simple form of learning, short- and long-term memory share a common locus and aspects of a common mechanism: synaptic depression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aplysia
  • Gills / physiology
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic / physiology*
  • Mechanoreceptors / physiology
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology
  • Motor Neurons / physiology
  • Reflex, Monosynaptic*
  • Retention, Psychology / physiology
  • Synaptic Membranes / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Time Factors