Memory block: A consequence of conflict resolution

Abstract

In Lymnaea, experiments showed that one-day food deprivation before aversive classical conditioning results in optimal conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and long-term memory (LTM), whereas 5-day food deprivation before training did not. We hypothesized that snails do in fact learn and form LTM when trained after prolonged food deprivation, but that severe food deprivation blocks their ability to express memory. We trained 5-day food-deprived snails under various conditions, and found that memory was indeed formed but overwhelmed by severe food deprivation. Moreover, CTA-LTM was context-dependent and could be observed only when the snails were in a context similar to that in which the training occurred.