Flatworms (Dugesia Tigrina) Trained to Fear Light Pass This Learned Information to Conspecifics Through Social Learning

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Abstract
  • Learning capability is believed to vary throughout the animal kingdom based on size and complexity of organism’s central nervous system. Understanding the learning capabilities of more primitive animals helps our understanding of the evolution of learning. We conducted an experiment to assess freshwater flatworms (Dugesia tigrina) capability to learn socially. First, a demonstrator flatworm was trained to fear light using an electric shock and a plastic cover. An observer flatworm was then acclimated with this demonstrator for 30 minutes, after which the behavior of the observer alone was assessed. Observer flatworms paired with demonstrators exposed control conditions (no cover & no shock combinations) increased time spent in light after social conditioning. However, observer flatworms exposed to a demonstrator that was trained with both the cover and electric shock reduced the time they spent in light, indicating cultural transmission of this learned information. These results indicate that despite a primitive nervous system, flatworms are capable of social learning and helps fill gaps in our understanding of the evolution of learning among various animal phyla.

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Degree
  • Bachelor

Level
  • Undergraduate

Discipline
  • Biology

Grantor
  • Hanover College

Advisor
  • Gall, Brian

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In Collection:

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Deitch, Coby (HC 2024). Flatworms (dugesia Tigrina) Trained to Fear Light Pass This Learned Information to Conspecifics Through Social Learning. Hanover College. 2024. hanover.hykucommons.org/concern/etds/8d700a4e-83aa-445e-8a29-c764cd2a0e2a?locale=en.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

D. C. (. 2024). (2024). Flatworms (Dugesia Tigrina) Trained to Fear Light Pass This Learned Information to Conspecifics Through Social Learning. https://hanover.hykucommons.org/concern/etds/8d700a4e-83aa-445e-8a29-c764cd2a0e2a?locale=en

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Deitch, Coby (HC 2024). Flatworms (dugesia Tigrina) Trained to Fear Light Pass This Learned Information to Conspecifics Through Social Learning. Hanover College. 2024. https://hanover.hykucommons.org/concern/etds/8d700a4e-83aa-445e-8a29-c764cd2a0e2a?locale=en.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.