One-trial associative learning modifies food odor preferences of a terrestrial mollusc.
We present evidence of rapid and reliable associative learning by the terrestrial mollusc, Limax maximus. Slugs were exposed once to a pairing of a highly attractive food odor (potato or carrot) and a saturated solution of quinidine sulfate, a bitter-tasting plant substance. In comparison with control slugs, the exposed slugs subsequently displayed a markedly reduced preference for the odor paired with quinidine. This reduced odor preference was limited to the specific odor paired with quinidine and did not generalize to other food odors.
Department of Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544.
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Sahley
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Gelperin
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Rudy