Associative learning in a network model of Hermissenda crassicornis. 2. Experiments

Previously authors presented a resistance-capacitance circuit computer model of the four-neuron visual-vestibular network of the invertebrate marine mollusk Hermissenda crassicornis. In the present paper, we demonstrate that changes in the model's output in response to simulated associative training is quantitatively similar to behavioral and electrophysiological changes in response to associative training of Hermissenda crassicornis. Specifically, the model demonstrates many characteristics of conditioning: sensitivity to stimulus contingency, stimulus specificity, extinction, and savings. The model's learning features also are shown to be devoid of non-associative components.