Trial and error learning in paramecium: A replication

Hanzel, Thomas E.; Rucker, William B.

doi:10.1016/s0091-6773(72)80180-9

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The behaviour of protozoa has been examined for over a hundred years under various external conditions and has been compared with intelligent behaviour in higher animals [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. It has long been observed that even protozoa behave in a highly adaptive way towards complicated environmental conditions [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. These reports have repeatedly stimulated discussion on the possibility of something like primitive intelligence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A ciliate memorizes the geometry of a swimming arena

Kunita

Yamaguchi

Tero

et al. 2016

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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Previous studies on adaptive behaviour in single-celled organisms have given hints to the origin of their memorizing capacity. Here we report evidence that a protozoan ciliate Tetrahymena has the capacity to learn the shape and size of its swimming space. Cells confined in a small water droplet for a short period were found to recapitulate circular swimming trajectories upon release. The diameter of the circular trajectories and their duration reflected the size of the droplet and the period of confinement. We suggest a possible mechanism for this adaptive behaviour based on a Ca(2+) channel. In our model, repeated collisions with the walls of a confining droplet result in a slow rise in intracellular calcium that leads to a long-term increase in the reversal frequency of the ciliary beat.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A ciliate memorizes the geometry of a swimming arena

Kunita

Yamaguchi

Tero

et al. 2016

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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“…The faster escape persists for at least two hours (Huber et al, 1974), which seems to rule out the possibility that Paramecium simply adapts to the mechanical stimulus of capillary suction. This phenomenon has been robustly reproduced by several authors (Applewhite and Gardner, 1973;Hanzel and Rucker, 1972), but its basis is unclear. Applewhite and Gardner (1973) proposed that Paramecium released some substance in the tube that then influences future behavior, but this hypothesis contradicts earlier results by Hanzel and Rucker (Hanzel and Rucker, 1972) showing the same performance improvement in multiple paramecia with the same tube.…”

Section: Learningmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…This phenomenon has been robustly reproduced by several authors (Applewhite and Gardner, 1973;Hanzel and Rucker, 1972), but its basis is unclear. Applewhite and Gardner (1973) proposed that Paramecium released some substance in the tube that then influences future behavior, but this hypothesis contradicts earlier results by Hanzel and Rucker (Hanzel and Rucker, 1972) showing the same performance improvement in multiple paramecia with the same tube. Studies of tube escape learning in Stentor, another ciliate, suggest that the phenomenon is related to gravitaxis (Bennett and Francis, 1972;Hinkle and Wood, 1994).…”

Section: Learningmentioning

confidence: 79%

Integrative Neuroscience ofParamecium, a “Swimming Neuron”

Brette

2021

eNeuro

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Paramecium is a unicellular organism that swims in fresh water by beating thousands of cilia. When it is stimulated (mechanically, chemically, optically, thermally…), it often swims backward then turns and swims forward again. This “avoiding reaction” is triggered by a calcium-based action potential. For this reason, some authors have called Paramecium a “swimming neuron.” This review summarizes current knowledge about the physiological basis of behavior of Paramecium .

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“…Primitive forms of learning were studied and although the results were clear, the explanation of them were problematic. In case of Paramecium, the rapid increase of tube-escape learning was demonstrated after exercise [33]; however, it was not believed as associative learning [34]. Nevertheless, in similar experiments when retreat from the dead end of a long capillary which was too narrow for turning, a long-term backward swimming developed, which lasted 5 to 10 times longer [35], and this rather developed after exercise.…”

Section: Learning and Memory In Unicellularsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Complex multicellular functions at a unicellular eukaryote level: Learning, memory, and immunity

Csaba

2017

Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica

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According to experimental data, eukaryote unicellulars are able to learn, have immunity and memory. Learning is carried out in a very primitive form, and the memory is not neural but an epigenetic one. However, this epigenetic memory, which is well justified by the presence and manifestation of hormonal imprinting, is strong and permanent in the life of cell and also in its progenies. This memory is epigenetically executed by the alteration and fixation of methylation pattern of genes without changes in base sequences. The immunity of unicellulars is based on self/non-self discrimination, which leads to the destruction of non-self invaders and utilization of them as nourishment (by phagocytosis). The tools of learning, memory, and immunity of unicellulars are uniformly found in plasma membrane receptors, which formed under the effect of dynamic receptor pattern generation, suggested by Koch et al., and this is the basis of hormonal imprinting, by which the encounter between a chemical substance and the cell is specifically memorized. The receptors and imprinting are also used in the later steps of evolution up to mammals (including man) in each mentioned functions. This means that learning, memory, and immunity can be deduced to a unicellular eukaryote level.

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Trial and error learning in paramecium: A replication

Cited by 14 publications

References 4 publications

A ciliate memorizes the geometry of a swimming arena

A ciliate memorizes the geometry of a swimming arena

Integrative Neuroscience ofParamecium, a “Swimming Neuron”

Complex multicellular functions at a unicellular eukaryote level: Learning, memory, and immunity

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