Abstract
In a series of related experiments, we studied associative phenomena in snails (Helix aspersa), using the conditioning procedure of tentacle lowering. Experiments 1A and 1B demonstrated a basic conditioning effect in which the pairing of an odor (apple) as the conditioned stimulus (CS) with the opportunity to feed on carrot as the unconditioned stimulus (US) made snails exhibit increased levels of tentacle lowering in the presence of the CS. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that the magnitude of the conditioning was reduced when snails were exposed to the CS prior to the conditioning trial (a latent inhibition effect). Experiment 4 examined the effects produced by pairing a compound CS (apple—pear) with food presentations and demonstrated the existence of an overshadowing effect between the two odors. Experiment 5 revealed that pairing one CS with another previously conditioned stimulus increased tentacle lowering to the new CS (a second-order conditioning effect). Finally, Experiment 6 showed that pairing two odors prior to conditioning of one of them promoted an increase in tentacle lowering in response to the other (a sensory preconditioning effect). The results are discussed in terms of an associative analysis of conditioning and its implications for the study of cognition in invertebrates.
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This research was supported by “Ayudas para proyectos de investigación de grupos emergentes” Universidad de Oviedo (MB-02-506-1, MB-03-506-1, and MB-04-506). Some of the data of Experiment 6 were collected by Gala Gash. We thank Francisco Valle, Luis G. Laplaza, and Félix Junco for their helpful review of early drafts of this manuscript. André Castillón improved our English considerably. Mark Ungless provided important advice regarding many experimental details. Sadaiko Nakajima supplied relevant references. Two anonymous reviewers made relevant theoretical and methodological points that improved the discussion and the general structure of the article. Karen Hollis showed an enthusiastic interest for the work, in spite of the initial version she saw. And last but not least, we are deeply grateful for Geoffrey Hall's positive reinforcement because he did much more than review the manuscript.
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Loy, I., Fernández, V. & Acebes, F. Conditioning of tentacle lowering in the snail (Helix aspersa): Acquisition, latent inhibition, overshadowing, second-order conditioning, and sensory preconditioning. Learning & Behavior 34, 305–314 (2006). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03192885
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03192885