Aplysia and Its Giant Nerve Cells

Synopsis: Begins with a brief description of Aplysia’s general features, and its behaviour patterns. In the laboratory, giant nerve cells are found in its nervous system. Experiments show that different neurons show different types of activity. The excitation and inhibition of these same neurons are demonstrated and compared with the effect of post-synaptic potentials induced by cellular activity. The interplay between synaptic excitation and inhibition and a neuron’s own spontaneous activity is examined in a more nearly intact animal, in which the giant neurons are still connected to most of their sensory and motor elements. The interaction between neurons is thus the cellular basis of behaviour and thus is emphasised by a study of the stereotyped escape responses to Tritonia in which certain cells ‘decide’ whether or not to command the escape response.
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Video; Film. 16mm. sd. col. 26 min.
Year of production: 1978
Availability: Sale (video - MBA)
Uses: Courses on neuro-physiology.*
Subjects: Biology
Keywords: cells; nerves; physiology - animal; sea hares

Name: University of Southern California, Institute of Marine and Coastal Studies

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