An automated training paradigm reveals long-term memory in planarians and its persistence through head regeneration

J Exp Biol · 2013 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 6823

Using a computerized training and testing paradigm, planarians showed environmental familiarization and this memory persisted for at least 14 days. Trained decapitated planarians also showed evidence of memory retrieval in a savings paradigm after regeneratin…

Study snapshot

PublicationJ Exp Biol · 2013

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Planarian flatworms are a popular system for research into the molecular mechanisms that enable these complex organisms to regenerate their entire body, including the brain. Classical data suggest that they may also be capable of long-term memory. Thus, the planarian system may offer the unique opportunity to study brain regeneration and memory in the same animal. To establish a system for the investigation of the dynamics of memory in a regenerating brain, we developed a computerized training and testing paradigm that avoided the many issues that confounded previous, manual attempts to train planarians. We then used this new system to train flatworms in an environmental familiarization protocol. We show that worms exhibit environmental familiarization, and that this memory persists for at least 14 days - long enough for the brain to regenerate. We further show that trained, decapitated planarians exhibit evidence of memory retrieval in a savings paradigm after regenerating a new head. Our work establishes a foundation for objective, high-throughput assays in this molecularly tractable model system that will shed light on the fundamental interface between body patterning and stored memories. We propose planarians as key emerging model species for mechanistic investigations of the encoding of specific memories in biological tissues. Moreover, this system is likely to have important implications for the biomedicine of stem-cell-derived treatments of degenerative brain disorders in human adults.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationPlanarian flatworms

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 97% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Environmental familiarization
Long-term memory persistence
Memory retrieval after head regeneration
Development of an automated training/testing paradigm

Limitations

Sample size not stated in the abstract
Abstract does not report quantitative effect estimates
Findings are from an animal model

View raw extracted JSON

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  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
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  },
  "population": "Planarian flatworms",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Environmental familiarization",
    "Long-term memory persistence",
    "Memory retrieval after head regeneration",
    "Development of an automated training/testing paradigm"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using a computerized training and testing paradigm, planarians showed environmental familiarization and this memory persisted for at least 14 days. Trained decapitated planarians also showed evidence of memory retrieval in a savings paradigm after regenerating a new head.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not stated in the abstract",
    "Abstract does not report quantitative effect estimates",
    "Findings are from an animal model"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.97,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "planarians",
    "flatworms",
    "memory",
    "long-term memory",
    "head regeneration",
    "brain regeneration",
    "environmental familiarization",
    "automated training paradigm",
    "animal model"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1242/jeb.087809
PubMed: 23821717

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