Possible Molecular Mechanisms for Paramecium Learning

Alipour, Abolfazl; Dorvash, Mohammadreza; Yeganeh, Yasaman; Hatam, Gholamreza; Seradj, Seyed Hasan

doi:10.18869/nrip.jamsat.3.1.39

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 47 publications

(61 reference statements)

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“…Accordingly, the present study made a distinction between dark-cathode and lightcathode association and found that the learning happens only in light-cathode conditions. The theoretical aspects of this issue will be addressed further in this section (using our previous hypothesis (10) on learning mechanisms of paramecium. Particularly, it seems that the data for the control group in Armus et al report might be unreliable (see Figure 5).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the molecular mechanism for this process is still unknown. We have previously suggested a molecular model (10) to explain this behavior based on molecular pathways that link cAMP concentration to the phototactic behavior of paramecium. However, our model predicted that paramecium cannot learn to associate lower light intensities (the dark side) with cathodal shocks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Paramecium Learning: New Insights and Modifications

Alipour

Dorvash

Yeganeh

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Learning is a fundamental process in neural systems. However, microorganisms without a nervous system have been shown to possess learning abilities. Specifically, Paramecium caudatum has been previously reported to be able to form associations between lighting conditions and cathodal shocks in its swimming medium. We have replicated previous reports on this phenomenon and tested the predictions of a molecular pathway hypothesis on paramecium learning. Our results indicated that in contrast to the previous reports, paramecium can only associate higher light intensities with cathodal stimulation and it cannot associate lower light intensities with cathodal stimulation. These results found to be in line with the predictions of the previously proposed model for the molecular mechanisms of learning in paramecium which depends on the effects of cathodal shocks on the interplay between Cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentration and phototactic behavior of paramecium.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paramecium Learning: New Insights and Modifications

Alipour

Dorvash

Yeganeh

et al. 2017

Preprint

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“…We cannot explain precisely how this agent disrupts learning in Paramecium . It may be explained based on the previously proposed model ( Alipour et al, 2017 ), where learning in Paramecium includes three main processes: a) light detection and phototaxis, b) disruption of phototaxis through electrical stimulation, and c) stimulation aftereffects. Some aspects of this model will be discussed in the following.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microtubule Disruption Without Learning Impairment in the Unicellular Organism, Paramecium: Implications for Information Processing in Microtubules

Alipour¹,

Hatam²,

Seradj³

2022

BCN

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Information processing in microtubules is an open question that has not been properly addressed yet. It was suggested that microtubules could store and process information in the nervous system or even support consciousness. The unicellular organism, Paramecium caudatum, that has a microtubular structure but does not have a neuron or neural network, shows intelligent behaviors such as associative learning. This may suggest that the microtubules are involved in intelligent behavior, information storage or information processing in paramecium. To test this hypothesis, we have utilized a paramecium learning task in which the organism associates brightness in its swimming medium with attractive cathodal shocks to study the role of microtubules in paramecium learning. We disrupted the microtubular dynamics in paramecium using an antimicrotubular agent (parbendazole) to see if microtubules are an integral part of information storage and processing in paramecium. We observed that while a partial allosteric modulator of GABA (midazolam) could disrupt the learning process in paramecium, the antimicrotubular agent could not interfere with the learning in paramecium. Therefore, our results suggest that microtubules are probably not vital for the learning behavior in P. caudatum. Consequently, our results call for a further revisitation of the microtubular information processing hypothesis.

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“…Our results show that learning in P. caudatum can be impaired upon the administration of a GABA receptor partial allosteric modulator, however, not by disrupting the microtubular dynamics. We cannot explain exactly how this agent disrupts learning in paramecium, but perhaps it may be explained based on the previously proposed model [29], where learning in paramecium includes three main processes: a) light detection and phototaxis, b) disruption of phototaxis through electrical stimulation, and c) stimulation aftereffects.…”

Section: Learning In Paramecium; Phototaxis Effects and Aftereffectsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Microtubule Disruption does not Impair Learning in the Unicellular Organism Paramecium: Implications for Information Processing in Microtubules

Alipour

Hatam

Salari

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Information processing in microtubules is an open question that has not been properly addressed yet.It was suggested that microtubules could store and process information in the nervous system or even support consciousness. The unicellular organism, Paramecium caudatum, that has a microtubular structure but does not have a neuron or neural network, shows intelligent behaviors such as associative learning which may suggest the possibility of involvement of microtubules in intelligent behavior, information storage or information processing. Here, we have utilized a paramecium learning task in which the organism associates brightness in its swimming medium with attractive cathodal shocks to study the role of microtubules in paramecium learning. We used an antimicrotubular agent (parbendazole) and disrupted microtubular dynamics in paramecium to see if microtubules are an integral part of information storage and processing in paramecium's learning process. We observed that a partial allosteric modulator of GABA (midazolam) could disrupt the learning process in paramecium, but the antimicrotubular agent could not. Therefore, our results suggest that microtubules are probably not vital for the learning behavior in P. caudatum. Consequently, our results call for a further revisitation of the microtubular information processing hypothesis.

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Possible Molecular Mechanisms for Paramecium Learning

Cited by 4 publications

References 47 publications

Paramecium Learning: New Insights and Modifications

Paramecium Learning: New Insights and Modifications

Microtubule Disruption Without Learning Impairment in the Unicellular Organism, Paramecium: Implications for Information Processing in Microtubules

Microtubule Disruption does not Impair Learning in the Unicellular Organism Paramecium: Implications for Information Processing in Microtubules

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