Abstract
Learning and memory studies have been performed for more than two decades using the crab Chasmagnathus in our laboratory. Here, our research was aimed at disclosing some instances of learning in field conditions. Three experiments were performed non-simultaneously, all with a 22.5-min pre-training preceding the first visual-danger-stimulus, an opaque rectangle passing overhead. In Experiment 1, crabs received a single stimulus followed by 22.5-min testing without stimulation, where the re-emerging latency was considered the basic latency response. In Experiment 2, training consisted of 15 stimulus 3-min apart, followed by 22.5-min testing without stimulation. Throughout training crabs were underground but re-emerged at testing with latencies longer than the basic latency response. Both at pre-training and testing the usual strategy of exploring was the short-near excursions. In Experiment 3, training included three stimulus 22.5-min apart, followed by 22.5-min testing. Crabs left their burrows before the end of each inter-trial, showing a mean latency like the basic latency response, but a sensitization to the stimulus and a preponderance of the fast-far excursions over the usual slow-near. In brief: through 15-3 training, crabs learn that the stimulus is iteratively presented; through 3-22.5 training, crabs acquire sensitization to the stimulus and a different strategy of exploration.
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Abbreviations
- VDS:
-
Visual danger stimulus
- CSM:
-
Context signal memory
- REL:
-
Re-emerging latency
- UPPre-tr :
-
Unprovoked burrow use during pre-training
- Pd-VDS :
-
Provoked burrow use caused by direct-VDS
- Pi-VDS :
-
Provoked burrow use caused by indirect-VDS
- Ptotal :
-
Total provoked burrow use
- ITI:
-
Inter-trial interval
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Acknowledgments
We thank D. Tomsic for helpful comments on the manuscript, M. Carbó for artwork support and G. Piriz and M. Tedesco for technical assistance in the field. This work was supported by FONCYT (Grant PICTR 00349, PICT-2006-02261), UBACYT (Grant X326) and CONICET (PIP 112-200801-02457 and PIP 2004-5466).
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359_2009_494_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
Definitions of terms used in the present paper and in the companion one (Fathala et al. 2009)
359_2009_494_MOESM2_ESM.pdf
Unprovoked and provoked retreats and burrow use. An unprovoked retreat comprises a homeward movement and retreat into the burrow and originates an unprovoked burrow use. On the other hand, a provoked retreat is characterized by a home run triggered by the predator-like stimulus and is followed by a provoked burrow use. In both cases the re-emerging latency time (REL) is the time between the entry into the burrow and the next re-emergence
359_2009_494_MOESM3_ESM.pdf
Variables used for estimating stay of the crabs inside their burrows. Two active burrows are considered as examples. Exploratory excursions at surface are shown as white rectangles. Each exploratory excursion begins when the crab emerges from the burrow (↑) and ends when the animal retreats underground (↓). This hiding may be triggered by the VDS activation (provoked burrow use) or may occur without any experimental stimulation (unprovoked burrow use). The re-emerging latency time (REL) between the VDS activation (bold arrow) and the beginning of the first exploratory excursion at testing is termed Provoked REL (Ptotal). The Ptotal may be either Pd-VDS (gross line) or Pi-VDS (dotted line), if the REL registered occur after a provoked or an unprovoked burrow use, respectively. The UPPre-tr refers to the mean time between any two successive exploratory excursions during the entire Pre-training period (dashed lines)
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Fathala, M.V., Iribarren, L., Kunert, M.C. et al. A field model of learning: 1. Short-term memory in the crab Chasmagnathus granulatus . J Comp Physiol A 196, 61–75 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-009-0494-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-009-0494-8