Use of the aplysia feeding network to study repetition priming of an episodic behavior

Elizabeth C. Cropper, Jian Jing, Matthew H. Perkins, Klaudiusz R. Weiss

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many central pattern generator (CPG)-mediated behaviors are episodic, meaning that they are not continuously ongoing; instead, there are pauses between bouts of activity. This raises an interesting possibility, that the neural networks that mediate these behaviors are not operating under “steady-state” conditions; i.e., there could be dynamic changes in motor activity as it stops and starts. Research in the feeding system of the mollusk Aplysia californica has demonstrated that this can be the case. After a pause, initial food grasping responses are relatively weak. With repetition, however, responses strengthen. In this review we describe experiments that have characterized cellular/molecular mechanisms that produce these changes in motor activity. In particular, we focus on cumulative effects of modulatory neuropeptides. Furthermore, we relate Aplysia research to work in other systems and species, and develop a hypothesis that postulates that changes in response magnitude are a reflection of an efficient feeding strategy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1014
Pages (from-to)1861-1870
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Neurophysiology
Volume118
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 14 Sep 2017

Keywords

  • Feeding microstructure
  • Invertebrate
  • Neuromodulation
  • Neuropeptides

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