The in vitro Classical Conditioning of the Gill Withdrawal Reflex of <i>Aplysia californica</i>

Abstract

Associative learning has been demonstrated in a reduced siphon, mantle, gill, and abdominal ganglion preparation of Aplysia. The preparations learned to respond to a previously neutral stimulus as a consequence of training in a classical conditioning paradigm. Backward conditioning, presentation of the conditioned stimulus alone, or presentation of the unconditioned stimulus at some random interval after presentation of the conditioned stimulus failed to produce conditioning. This model system can be used to study the neural mechanisms underlying associative learning.