CHEMICAL CORRELATE OF LEARNING IN A PRAYING MANTIS

Bidimensional and unidimensional maps of amine-containing components extracted from brains of the praying mantis (Stagmatoptera biocellata) were obtained using high-voltage electrophoresis and chromatography, and high-voltage electrophoresis alone. Bidimensional maps from control insects, i.e. animals that did not receive training, showed four distinctive spots and one less intense spot (number 5). On the other hand, bidimensional maps from trained animals, i.e. mantids that were trained not to attack a moving star, showed the same spots 1-4, plus an intense spot (number 5) and an extra componet (number 6). Unidimensional maps from brains of mantids that were trained not to attack a moving star ('star-group') showed two extra components in comparison with maps from the control insects. On the other hand, when mantids received training similarto that of the star-group, but using a fly that could not be caught as a stimulus, instead of a mobile star, they did not learn and their maps were similar to those from control mantids. The techniques used in this paper to obtain the maps suggest that they are maps of peptides of low molecular weight. The possible correlation between the appearance of extra spots in the maps and a learning process is discussed. © 1979.