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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Aplysia Ganglia Preparation for Electrophysiological and Molecular Analyses of Single Neurons
Published on: January 13, 2014
Water-flow sensitive pedal neurons in Tritonia: role in rheotaxis
J A Murray1, R S Hewes, A O Willows
1Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Abstract:
We have identified 13 pairs of neurons in the pedal ganglia of the marine nudibranch slug Tritonia diomedea that responded tonically and/or phasically to water-flow directed at the rhinophore sheaths and oral veil tips. Most of the neurons responded equally to inputs from either side of the body, but 6 pairs responded with greater intensity to ipsilateral water-flow stimuli. When stimulated intracellularly in a semi-intact, whole-animal preparation, 4 of these 6 pairs of neurons caused ipsilateral movements that may turn the animal towards that side. These observations suggest a role for these current-sensitive neurons in the previously described orientation to water-currents in Tritonia diomedea.
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