Aplysia [COMPLETE · Tricks]

By teaching these slugs simple behaviors—like getting them to habituate to a gentle touch or react strongly to a shock—Kandel discovered that (the connections between cells). This work was so foundational that it earned him the Nobel Prize in 2000 . Life in the Wild Eric Kandel - Scientist - Discovering "Aplysia"

In the 1960s, neuroscientist Eric Kandel made a controversial choice: he stopped studying complex mammals like cats and began studying the . While humans have billions of tiny neurons, these slugs have only about 20,000—and some of their individual nerve cells are massive enough to see with the naked eye. aplysia

The story of , commonly known as the "sea hare," is one of the most important in the history of science. For decades, this humble, purple-ink-squirting sea slug has been the "star performer" in helping humans understand how our own brains learn and remember. The Nobel Prize Winner By teaching these slugs simple behaviors—like getting them