A learning and memory area in the octopus brain manifests a vertebrate-like long-term potentiation.
Cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory were investigated in the octopus using a brain slice preparation of the vertical lobe, an area of the octopus brain involved in learning and memory. Field potential recordings revealed long-term potentiation (LTP) of glutamatergic synaptic field potentials similar to that in vertebrates. These findings suggest that convergent evolution has led to the selection of similar activity-dependent synaptic processes that mediate complex forms of learning and memory in vertebrates and invertebrates.
Hochner
Binyamin
B
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Life Sciences and the Interdisciplinary Center for Neural Computation, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel. bennyh@lobster.ls.huji.ac.il
Brown
Euan R
ER
Langella
Marina
M
Shomrat
Tal
T
Fiorito
Graziano
G
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D049831:Octopodiformes / Q000502:physiology*