Specific Factors Influencing Planarian Behavior

  • James V. McConnell

Abstract

Let me begin by stating what I believe to be a terribly important rule of experimental psychology: In at least 90 % of the studies published in psychological journals, the most important factors influencing the animals’ behavior were those factors the investigators did not measure, did not control, did not mention in their written reports, and probably did not even know about. The rest of this paper is an attempt to prove the validity of this particular point with specific reference to the planarian literature, although I shall begin by talking about rats.

Keywords

Conditioned Stimulus Unconditioned Stimulus Conditioned Response Classical Conditioning Maze Learning 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Barnes, C. D., and B. G. Katzung, Stimulus polarity and conditioning in planaria. Science, 1963, 141, 728.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Bennett, E. L., and M. Calvin, Failure to train planarians reliably. Neurosci. Res. Program Bull., 1964, July–Aug.Google Scholar
  3. Best, J. B., and I. Rubenstein, Maze learning and associated behavior in planaria. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol., 1962, 55, 560.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Brown, H. M., R. E. Dustman, and E. C. Beck, Experimental procedures that modify light response frequency of regenerated planaria. Physiol. and Behav., 1966, 1(3), 245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Cohen, J., Diurnal cycles and maze learning in planarians. Worm Runner’s Digest, 1965, 7(1), 20.Google Scholar
  6. Corning, W. C., and E. R. John, Effect of ribonuclease on retention of conditioned response in regenerated planarians. Science, 1961, 134, 1363.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Humphries, Barbara, and J. V. McConnell, Conditions facilitating learning in planarians. Worm Runner’s Digest, 1964, 6(1), 52.Google Scholar
  8. Jacobson, A. L., C. Fried, and S. D. Horowitz, Planarians and memory, I: Transfer of learning by injection of ribonucleic acid; II: The influence of prior extinction on the RNA transfer effect. Nature, 1966, 209(5023), 599.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. James, R. L., and E. S. Halas, No difference in extinction behavior in planaria following various types and amounts of training. Psych. Rec., 1964, 14, 1.Google Scholar
  10. Jensen, D. D., Paramecia, planaria, and pseudo-learning. Animal Behav., Suppl. 1, 1965, 13, 9.Google Scholar
  11. McConnell, J. V., On the turning of worms: a reply to James and Halas. Psych. Record, 1964, 14(1), 13.Google Scholar
  12. McConnell, J. V., ed., A Manual of Psychological Experimentation on Planarians. Special publication of The Worm Runner’s Digest, 1965.Google Scholar
  13. McConnell, J. V., A. L. Jacobson, and D. P. Kimble, The effects of regeneration upon retention of a conditioned response in the planarian. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol., 1959, 52, 1.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. McConnell, J. V., and G. Mpitsos, Effects of the presence or absence of slime on classical conditioning in planarians. Amer. Zool., 1965, 5(4), 122.Google Scholar
  15. Pearl, R., The movements and reactions of fresh-water planarians. J. Micro Sci., 1903, 46, 509.Google Scholar
  16. Ragland, Rae S., and J. B. Ragland, Planaria: interspecific transfer of a conditionability factor through cannibalism. Psychon. Sci., 1965, 3, 117.Google Scholar
  17. Roe, Kiki, In search of the locus of learning in planarians. Worm Runner’s Digest, 1963, 5(2), 16.Google Scholar
  18. Van Deventer, J. M., and S. C. Ratner, Variables affecting the frequency of response of planaria to light. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol., 1964, 57, 407.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Walker, D. R., and G. A. Milton, Memory transfer vs. sensitization in cannibal planarians. Psychon. Sci., 1966, 5, 293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Westerman, R. A., Somatic inheritance of habituation of responses to light in planarians. Science, 1963, 140, 676.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 1967

Authors and Affiliations

  • James V. McConnell
    • 1
  1. 1.Mental Health Research InstituteThe University of MichiganAnn ArborUSA

Personalised recommendations