Learning in the Single-Cell Organism Physarum polycephalum: Effect of Propofol.

ABSTRACT: Propofol belongs to a class of molecules that are known to block learning and memory in mammals, including rodents and humans. Interestingly, learning and memory are not tied to the presence of a nervous system. There are several lines of evidence indicating that single-celled organisms also have the capacity for learning and memory which may be considered as basal intelligence. Here, we introduce a new experimental model for testing the learning ability of Physarum polycephalum, a model organism frequently used to study single-celled "intelligence". In this study, the impact of propofol on Physarum's "intelligence" was tested. The model consists of a labyrinth of subsequent bifurcations in which food (oat flakes soaked with coconut oil-derived medium chain triglycerides [MCT

SUBMITTER: Kippenberger S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10094176 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature