Spatial learning in the restrained American cockroach Periplaneta americana

Hyung Wook Kwon, David D. Lent, Nicholas J. Strausfeld

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Spatial learning abilities were tested in restrained cockroaches by observing antennal projection responses towards the positions of a learned visual cue perceived monocularly by one eye in the context of a second stimulus provided to the contralateral eye. Memory of the position of the conditioning stimulus relative to the contralateral reference stimulus was tested by altering the relative positions of the two stimuli. Memory of the conditioning stimulus is retained if the angle between the conditioning stimulus and the contralateral reference stimulus is maintained. The results suggest that during learning the insect recognizes spatial relationships between the conditioning stimulus and the contralateral reference stimulus. Possible mechanisms, such as retinotopic matching versus angular matching, are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)377-383
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Experimental Biology
Volume207
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2004

Keywords

  • Antennal movement
  • Behavior
  • Cockroach
  • Periplaneta americana
  • Place memory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Physiology
  • Aquatic Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Insect Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Spatial learning in the restrained American cockroach Periplaneta americana'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this