Feeding behavior in Aplysia californica: Role of chemical and tactile stimuli.

Abstract

Five experiments concerned with feeding were performed. Experiment 1 was exploratory in nature, and using time-lapse cinematography, we found that the approach to food (seaweed) involved an initial arousal and then a slow movement toward the food with considerable pausing and head waving. In Experiment 2 a T-maze apparatus was used to show that Aplysia will consistently turn toward the highest concentration of food chemical. Experiment 3 showed that food-aroused animals proceeded upstream against a slow current, while those unaroused proceeded up or down stream. Experiments 4 and 5 showed that chemical stimulation of the rhinophores, anterior tentacles, and dorsal head area resulted in feeding responses; and tactile stimulus-response relationships varied markedly with the state of arousal.This report describes one of a series of studies of the behavior of the sea hare, Aplysia californica, which is a marine mollusk found off the shores of California. This species is well known for its usefulness in neurophysiological research (see, e.g., Kandel & Spencer, 1968) and recently has been used in important studies of brain-behavior relationships (see Bruner & Tauc, 1966;Kupfermann, Castellucci, Pinsker, & Kandel, 1970;Peretz, 1970). Our general purpose is to provide more insight into the behavior of Aplysia to facilitate the latter type of study.Comparatively little is known about Aplysia behavior. The few studies which have been done include investigations of habituation (

Chemosensory-based contextual conditioning inHermissenda crassicornis

“…Chemosensory cues were chosen as the defining characteristic ofthe context given the widely accepted importance of chemoreception in molluscan behavior. This is particularly true for the identification of potential food sources, initiation of feeding, and the detection of predators and noxious stimuli (Audesirk & Audesirk, 1985;Croll, 1983;Kohn, 196I;Kupfermann, 1974;Preston & Lee, 1973). Furthermore, the capacity ofchemosensory systems to participate in the conditioning of invertebrates is well established (Audesirk, Alexander, Audesirk, & Moyer, 1982;Farley et aI., 1990;Sahley et aI., 1990;Sahley et aI., 198 I;Walters, Carew, & Kandel, 1981).…”

“…During preliminary work, the forceps alone were used to apply tactile stimulation to the anterior tentacles and oral veil region. Despite precedence for the elicitation of feeding responses in mollusks by mechanical stimuli (Preston & Lee, 1973), a bite response was never observed to this tactile stimulation (see also Farley et aI., 1990).…”

Amino Acid-induced Reflexes and Their Neural Pathways in an Opisthobranch Mollusc Pleurobranchaea japonica

“…In Aplysia, the rhinophores, tentacles, and oral veil are chemosensory organs (Preston and Lee, 1973;Jahan-Parwar, 1972, 1975. All of the chemosensory nerves of these organs enter the cerebral ganglion (Jahan-Parwar, 1972;Audesirk and Audesirk, 1977;Chase, 1979).…”

Catecholamine‐containing cells in the central nervous system and periphery of Aplysia californica

“…For instance, despite over 30 years of extensive study, it is now apparent that a major class of mechanosensory neurones involved in the gill withdrawal reflex has escaped identification (Frost et al, 1997;Hickie et al, 1997;Walters and Cohen, 1997), and only a portion of the many sensory neurones that probably contribute to other behaviours such as the appetitive and consummatory aspects of feeding is known (Preston and Lee, 1973;Audesirk, 1975;Emery and Audesirk, 1978;Rosen et al, 1979;Xin et al, 1995). Even more broadly, the entire peripheral nervous system, although long known to be both extensive and complex (Bulloch and Horridge, 1965), is largely unexplored (but see Peretz and Moller, 1974;Bailey et al, 1976;Xin et al, 1995).…”