Biomaterial Database

Long-term sensitization of a defensive withdrawal reflex in Aplysia. 1973

H M Pinsker, and W A Hening, and T J Carew, and E R Kandel

When a weak tactile stimulus is applied to the siphon of Aplysia californica, the animal withdraws the siphon between the parapodia. This defensive withdrawal reflex can be facilitated (sensitized) if the animal is previously given 4 days of training, consisting of four brief noxious stimuli each day. The sensitization of this reflex can last for up to 3 weeks after training and is mediated by the abdominal ganglion which also mediates long-term habituation. This preparation may provide a system for analyzing the neural mechanism of long-term behavioral modifications of complexity which is intermediate between habituation and associative learning.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008974	Mollusca	A phylum of the kingdom Metazoa. Mollusca have soft, unsegmented bodies with an anterior head, a dorsal visceral mass, and a ventral foot. Most are encased in a protective calcareous shell. It includes the classes GASTROPODA; BIVALVIA; CEPHALOPODA; Aplacophora; Scaphopoda; Polyplacophora; and Monoplacophora.	Molluscs,Mollusks,Mollusc,Molluscas,Mollusk
D010812	Physical Stimulation	Act of eliciting a response from a person or organism through physical contact.	Stimulation, Physical,Physical Stimulations,Stimulations, Physical
D005724	Ganglia	Clusters of multipolar neurons surrounded by a capsule of loosely organized CONNECTIVE TISSUE located outside the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
D006185	Habituation, Psychophysiologic	The disappearance of responsiveness to a repeated stimulation. It does not include drug habituation.	Habituation (Psychophysiology),Habituation, Psychophysiological,Psychophysiologic Habituation,Psychophysiological Habituation,Habituations (Psychophysiology)
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013216	Reflex, Startle	A complex involuntary response to an unexpected strong stimulus. The reaction involves physical movement away from the stimulus, MUSCLE CONTRACTION and limb flexion, BLINKING, and changes in HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE, and RESPIRATION.	Startle Reaction,Acoustic Startle Reflex,Reflex, Moro,Startle Response,Moro Reflex,Reaction, Startle,Reactions, Startle,Reflex, Acoustic Startle,Response, Startle,Responses, Startle,Startle Reactions,Startle Reflex,Startle Reflex, Acoustic,Startle Responses