Sea Slug Learning and Memory Recall

Which sea slug is most likely to remember an aversive event?

a) The one with frequent and closely-spaced puffs
b) The one with frequent but not closely spaced puffs
c) The one with one puff
d) None of them will remember the event

Answer:

The sea slug receiving frequent and closely spaced puffs of air is likely to remember the aversive event the most due to the process of sensitization.

In the context of learning and memory recall for sea slugs, it's crucial to understand that the frequency and timing of stimuli can influence how a memory is recorded. The sea slug likely to remember an aversive event the most would be the one receiving frequent and closely spaced-in-time puffs of air (option a).

This phenomenon can be explained by a biological process known as habituation and sensitization. Habituation represents the decrease in reaction to a stimulus after repeated presentations, while sensitization is the increased response induced by the repeated encounters of an intense stimulus. When the stimuli are frequent and closely spaced in time, it triggers sensitization, thus making this event more memorable.

Therefore, the sea slug that received frequent and closely spaced puffs of air is most likely to remember the aversive event due to the process of sensitization enhancing the memory formation.