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Synaptic plasticity in cephalopods; more than just learning and memory?

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Invertebrate Neuroscience

Abstract

The outstanding behavioural capacity of cephalopods is underpinned by a highly sophisticated nervous system anatomy and neural mechanisms that often differ significantly from similarly complex systems in vertebrates and insects. Cephalopods exhibit considerable behavioural flexibility and adaptability, and it might be expected that this should be supported by evident cellular and synaptic plasticity. Here, we review what little is known of the cellular mechanisms that underlie plasticity in cephalopods, particularly from the point of view of synaptic function. We conclude that cephalopods utilise short-, medium-, and long-term plasticity mechanisms that are superficially similar to those so far described in vertebrate and insect synapses. These mechanisms, however, often differ significantly from those in other animals at the biophysical level and are deployed not just in the central nervous system, but also to a limited extent in the peripheral nervous system and neuromuscular junctions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the two anonymous referees whose comments helped to improve the manuscript and Mr G. Ferrandino for help with the artwork.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot Watt University, William Perkin Building, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK

    Euan R. Brown

  2. Department of Animal Physiology and Evolution, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80110, Naples, Italy

    Euan R. Brown & Stefania Piscopo

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  1. Euan R. Brown
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  2. Stefania Piscopo
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Correspondence to Euan R. Brown.

Additional information

This article forms part of a special issue on Cephalopod Biology under the auspices of CephRes-ONLUS (http://www.cephalopodresearch.org).

Guest Editor: Graziano Fiorito.

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Brown, E.R., Piscopo, S. Synaptic plasticity in cephalopods; more than just learning and memory?. Invert Neurosci 13, 35–44 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10158-013-0150-4

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