Integrative neuroscience of paramecium, a “swimming neuron”

Abstract

Paramecium is a unicellular organism that swims in fresh water by beating thousands of cilia. When it is stimu-lated (mechanically, chemically, optically, thermally…), it often swims backward then turns and swims forward again. This “avoiding reaction” is triggered by a calcium-based action potential. For this reason, some authors have called Paramecium a “swimming neuron.” This review summarizes current knowledge about the physiological basis of behavior of Paramecium.