Measuring crab´s memory: improving conditioning

MATIAS ANDINA; MARTÍN KLAPPENBACH; FERNANDO LOCATELLI; MARÍA EUGENIA PEDREIRA; ARTURO ROMANO; MARIANA FELD

Huerta Grande

Congreso; XXVII Congreso de la Sociedad Argentina de Neurociencias; 2013

Sociedad Argentina de Investigaciones en Neurociencias

Context-Signal Memory (CSM) of the crab Neohelice granulata has been exhaustively studied as a learning and memory model that allowed to unravel details from processes such as consolidation, reconsolidation, extinction and retrieval. However, a limiting feature of the experimental design has been the high number of animals needed to draw conclusions. Using the traditional device, it was demonstrated that paired presentations of the context (CS) with the visual danger stimulus, VDS (US) increases the predictive value of the CS thus eliciting an anticipatory response. This new paradigm was named Contextual Pavlovian Conditioning (CPC) (Fustiñana et al., 2012).Recently, we developed a new device to measure the crab´s escape response in order to reduce the number of individuals. For this purpose, the crab is hold from the dorsal carapace over a cylinder that rolls as the animal tries to move. A computer records distance and time, and controls stimulation. Our challenge was to adapt CPC to the new device. Here, we present data showing that learning and memory retention can be clearly revealed in this new device using four times less animals than in the traditional one. Moreover, it allows more detailed measurements and a thorough description of the behavior. This tool promises a whole new set of possibilities to venture into learning and memory mechanisms and, applying experimental approaches suited for reduced number of animals.