A non-selective serotonin antagonist promotes rapid habituation in the terrestrial hermit crab

Abstract EN

Research has indicated that serotonin (5-HT) modulates non-associative learning in a variety of invertebrate species.

Recent work has demonstrated that the terrestrial hermit crab is a suitable animal model for non-associative learning phenomena, including habituation, sensitization, and dishabituation.

We examined the potential role of a non-selective 5-HT antagonist, methysergide, in non-associative learning in the hermit crab.

We administered methysergide prior to delivering repeated stimulus presentations of a looming visual predator.

We found evidence for more rapid habituation relative to a control condition in which crabs did not receive the drug.

These results indicate a role for 5-HT in the defensive behavior of the hermit crab and importantly, suggest a conserved role for 5-HT in modulating basic learning processes in invertebrates.