Discrimination Learning in Paramecia (P. caudatum)

Possible Molecular Mechanisms for Paramecium Learning

“…Considering the fact that the time spent in the cathodal half is time spent in dark side of it for 50% of the time and light side for the other 50% of the time, paramecia should spend on average 45 seconds of the time in the cathodal side. Interestingly, the difference between experimental and control group lies exactly within this 10 second time window [11].…”

“…Previous studies by Armus et al [11] and its replication by dorvash et al [26], suggests that there should be a light detection system in P. caudatum. In fact, it is known that light exposure can induce or modulate biological processes in cellular structures that do not possess a [11].…”

“…In fact, it is known that light exposure can induce or modulate biological processes in cellular structures that do not possess a [11]. Each data point indicates time spent in "cathodal half" of the trough in different trials for different groups.…”

“…Therefore, it might be argued that Physarum polycephalum is not a typical unicellur organism ant it has probably developed some complex mechanisms for learning. Paramecium, on the other hand, is a typical unicellular organism that can learn [11]. Presence of learning in paramecium has been suggested as early as 1911 [12].…”

“…Consequently, the study of the paramecium learning behavior extended to 21st century when Armus et al showed that paramecium can learn to remain in cathodal side of its swimming medium to receive cathodal shocks as an attractive stimulus [11]. This study was followed by a series of investigations by the same team to find the retention time in paramecium which demonstrated that paramecium can have a memory of conditioning up to 1 minute [20].…”