When the gill-withdrawal reflex of the sea snail Aplysia has been successfully conditioned to a stimulus such as a squirt of water from a Waterpik, observed changes in the neural circuit include:
A)an increase in the number of synapses.
B)a decrease in the number of synapses.
C)cell death.
D)neuron migration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The successful conditioning of the gill-withdrawal reflex of Aplysia leads to an increase in the number of synapses in the neural circuit, specifically between the sensory and motor neurons involved in the reflex. This increase in synapses is thought to be a key cellular mechanism underlying the formation of long-term memory in Aplysia.

When the Gill-Withdrawal Reflex of the Sea Snail Aplysia Has