Embryonic visual learning in the cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis

Darmaillacq, Anne-Sophie; Lesimple, Clémence; Dickel, Ludovic

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.02.006

Cited by 73 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…These data support previous studies that showed that late embryos can be familiarized to the sight or the odor of a prey (Darmaillacq et al, 2008;Guibé et al, 2010). The present study clearly shows that the visual system is functional from about 3weeks before hatching (at stage 25).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Despite the black coloration of the egg capsule, recent studies on cuttlefish have shown that visual information could reach the embryo and that visual or chemical exposure to potential prey induced a change in hatchlings' natural prey preference (Darmaillacq et al, 2008;Guibé et al, 2010). However, there is still no direct evidence of embryonic learning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Habituation allows animals to focus selectively on relevant stimuli and may serve as a prerequisite for other forms of learning (Rankin et al, 2009). In cuttlefish, it is known that some post-hatching behaviors are plastic and dependent on individual embryonic sensory experience (Darmaillacq et al, 2008;Guibé et al, 2010). It is therefore important for embryos to sort out relevant stimuli as they cannot escape from their eggs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present study clearly shows that the visual system is functional from about 3weeks before hatching (at stage 25). This allows embryos to collect large amounts of visual information from their surroundings, and potentially to adapt species-specific behavior after hatching [by identifying available prey (Darmaillacq et al, 2008) or potential threat (L.D., unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there is indirect evidence that embryos can perceive visual information through the inked layers in the last stages of development [e.g. prey (Darmaillacq et al, 2008) and contrasts (Guibé et al, 2012)]. …”

Section: Discussion Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feel, smell and see in an egg: emergence of perception and learning in an immature invertebrate, the cuttlefish embryo

Romagny

Darmaillacq

Guibé

et al. 2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYIt is now well established that prenatal sensory experience affects development itself and has long-term consequences in terms of postnatal behavior. This study focused on the functionality of the sensory system in cuttlefish in ovo. Embryos of stage 23, 25 and 30 received a tactile, chemical or visual stimulus. An increase of mantle contraction rhythm was taken to indicate a behavioral response to the stimulus. We clearly demonstrated that tactile and chemical systems are functional from stage 23, whereas the visual system is functional only from stage 25. At stage 25 and 30, embryos were also exposed to a repeated light stimulus. Stage 30 embryos were capable of habituation, showing a progressive decrease in contractions across stimulations. This process was not due to fatigue as we observed response recovery after a dishabituation tactile stimulus. This study is the first to show that cuttlefish embryos behaviorally respond to stimuli of different modalities and that the visual system is the last to become functional during embryonic development, as in vertebrate embryos. It also provides new evidence that the memory system develops in ovo in cuttlefish.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussion Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Feel, smell and see in an egg: emergence of perception and learning in an immature invertebrate, the cuttlefish embryo

Romagny

Darmaillacq

Guibé

et al. 2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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What Is There to Learn in a Zoo Setting?

Clark¹

2019

Zoo Animal Learning and Training

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Delayed and asynchronous ganglionic maturation during cephalopod neurogenesis as evidenced by Sof‐elav1 expression in embryos of Sepia officinalis (Mollusca, Cephalopoda)

Buresi

Canali

Bonnaud

et al. 2013

J of Comparative Neurology

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Among the Lophotrochozoa, centralization of the nervous system reaches an exceptional level of complexity in cephalopods, where the typical molluscan ganglia become highly developed and fuse into hierarchized lobes. It is known that ganglionic primordia initially emerge early and simultaneously during cephalopod embryogenesis but no data exist on the process of neuron differentiation in this group. We searched for members of the elav/hu family in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis, since they are one of the first genetic markers of postmitotic neural cells. Two paralogs were identified and the expression of the most neural-specific gene, Sof-elav1, was characterized during embryogenesis. Sof-elav1 is expressed in all ganglia at one time of development, which provides the first genetic map of neurogenesis in a cephalopod. Our results unexpectedly revealed that Sof-elav1 expression is not similar and not coordinated in all the prospective ganglia. Both palliovisceral ganglia show extensive Sof-elav1 expression soon after emergence, showing that most of their cells differentiate into neurons at an early stage. On the contrary, other ganglia, and especially both cerebral ganglia that contribute to the main parts of the brain learning centers, show a late extensive Sof-elav1 expression. These delayed expressions in ganglia suggest that most ganglionic cells retain their proliferative capacities and postpone differentiation. In other molluscs, where a larval nervous system predates the development of the definitive adult nervous system, cerebral ganglia are among the first to mature. Thus, such a difference may constitute a cue in understanding the peculiar brain evolution in cephalopods.

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Embryonic visual learning in the cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis

Cited by 73 publications

References 30 publications

Feel, smell and see in an egg: emergence of perception and learning in an immature invertebrate, the cuttlefish embryo

Feel, smell and see in an egg: emergence of perception and learning in an immature invertebrate, the cuttlefish embryo

What Is There to Learn in a Zoo Setting?

Delayed and asynchronous ganglionic maturation during cephalopod neurogenesis as evidenced by Sof‐elav1 expression in embryos of Sepia officinalis (Mollusca, Cephalopoda)

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