A Circuit Analysis and Computational Model of Operant Conditioning in Aplysia

The primary objective of this research project was to carry out a behavioral cellular and computational analysis of operant conditioning of the head-waving response in the marine mollusc Aplysia. The major motor components of the operant response head-waving were revealed with detailed kinematic analysis the biomechanical principles underlying the operant response have been elucidated and a fluid-hydrostat model of head-waving was constructed the critical muscle groups involved in the generation and maintenance of the operant response have been identified the timing and pattern of muscle interactions and their relationship both to motor neuron activity and to behavioral generation of the operant response have been specified the endogenous firing rates of single identified motor neurons can be operantly conditioned using behaviorally relevant stimuli the interganglionic connections responsible for coordinating the operant response have been identified the reinforcement pathway necessary for operant conditioning has been identified and, techniques have now been developed to generate a network model for information processing involved in operant conditioning, as well as other forms of plasticity, in the CNS of Aplysia. One hallmark for a successful project is that it opens new and exciting areas of inquiry at the same time that it satisfies the basic project mission.