In addition to studying the behavior of the Aplysia, our laboratory is interested in the Aplysia's neurons. We would like to know how the neurons change as the Aplysia learns. We know that when you touch the Aplysia's tail and it contracts, this behavior is controlled by sensory and motor neurons. A touch to the tail is sensed by neurons in the skin of the animal. Sensory neurons are special nerve cells that can change the energy of a touch into chemical and electrical signals which are used to communicate with other neurons.
Motor neurons are nerve cells that control muscles.
Our laboratory is interested in the changes in the sensory and motor neurons after the animal has learned. In addition, there are also other neurons that play a role in learning the simple behaviors of sensitization and habituation. These other neurons are called interneurons .