Document Type
Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.09.008
Journal Title
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
Publication Date
2019
Abstract
Research has indicated that serotonin (5-HT) modulates non-associative learning in a variety of invertebrate species. Recent work has demonstrated that the terrestrial hermit crab is a suitable animal model for non-associative learning phenomena, including habituation, sensitization, and dishabituation. We examined the potential role of a non-selective 5-HT antagonist, methysergide, in non-associative learning in the hermit crab. We administered methysergide prior to delivering repeated stimulus presentations of a looming visual predator. We found evidence for more rapid habituation relative to a control condition in which crabs did not receive the drug. These results indicate a role for 5-HT in the defensive behavior of the hermit crab and importantly, suggest a conserved role for 5-HT in modulating basic learning processes in invertebrates.
Publisher Statement
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
© 2018 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.
Recommended Citation
Sumra, Kirandeep, and W. David Stahlman. 2019. “A Non-Selective Serotonin Antagonist Promotes Rapid Habituation in the Terrestrial Hermit Crab.” Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 26 (7): 1621–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.09.008.
Comments
The definitive article is available on the ScienceDirect website at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.09.008.