Sensitization in Aplysia: restoration of transmission in synapses inactivated by long-term habituation.
Long-term habituation of a simple withdrawal reflex in Aplysia leads to an inactivation of synaptic transmission between identified sensory and gill motor neurons that persists for more than 3 weeks. A single sensitizing stimulus rapidly reactivates both the depressed behavioral response and the inactivated synaptic transmission. Thus sensitization, a simple competitive form of learning, provides a mechanism whereby changing environmental demands can rapidly override the long-term memory of habituation.
D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D007858:Learning; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*