Complex “Simple Nervous Systems”

Terrestrial gastropods have evolved new structures in the nervous system compared to marine and aquatic snails in order to adapt to their new habitat. The behavior of these animals is qualitatively different from the behavior of aquatic gastropods and includes not only the possibility of active interaction with other animals but also the demonstration of interest by active approach, avoidance, or escape in certain cases. The “arrow of love” used in copulation is unique to nature. Almost all types of associative memory can be formed in these animals, consolidation and reconsolidation of memory can be demonstrated, and mechanisms of memory maintenance and modification can be analyzed. At the level of functionally identified neurons and neural clusters, it is possible to study associative processes in vitro; a 3-neural model of associative long-term changes in synaptic efficiency has been developed.