Activity and habituation in the brain of the polyclad flatworm Freemania litoricola

1. A variety of spontaneously active units was measured in the brain of the polyclad flatworm Freemania litoricola. Following application of MgCl2 there was both a decrease in number of active units and a decrease in frequency of firing of those cells which persisted in their activity. 2. Receptors which respond to vibration stimuli evoke potentials in the posterior part of the brain. Repetitive stimulation leads to habituation, the extent of which is dependent on both the number of times stimulated and the strength of the stimulus. Weaker stimuli habituate more rapidly than strong stimuli. Habituated responses can be dishabituated by tactile stimuli and also by stronger intensity stimuli of the same modality. The vibration-evoked potentials appear to occur in at least second-order cells, since vibration responses are abolished by the application of MgCl2. 3. Tactile responses can also be elicited from the posterior portion of the brain when the stimulus is applied to the periphery of the animal. These responses are insensitive to MgCl2. 4. Both vibration and tactile evoked responses are able to evoke further barrages of spike activity. 5. The presence of a dual sensitizing and inhibitory system during habituation is discussed.