Reactivation-dependent changes in memory states in the terrestrial slug Limax flavus

Abstract

The change in memory state in the terrestrial slug Limax flavus was studied using cooling-induced retrograde amnesia. Slugs were first conditioned to avoid carrot odor and then a second conditioning procedure was applied 1, 3, 6, or 7 days after the first conditioning trial. Cooling the slugs to ~1°C on day 7 immediately after the presentation of the odor used in the conditioning resulted in retrograde amnesia in the slugs that were subject to a second conditioning on day 6 or 7, but not in slugs that were subject to a second conditioning on day 1 or 3. Next, second-order conditioning was used as the second conditioning procedure to distinguish the memory acquired in the first conditioning from that acquired in the second conditioning and similar results were obtained. These results suggest that the reactivation of memory altered the memory state from a cooling- insensitive state to a cooling-sensitive one. A possible model for memory states is discussed.