Learning in Cnidaria: a summary

ABSTRACT

Based on a systematic literature search, I recently reviewed learning in the phylum Cnidaria, animals possessing a nerve net as a nervous system but no centralized brain. I found abundant evidence of non-associative learning, both habituation and sensitization, but only sparse evidence of associative learning. Only one well-controlled study on classical conditioning in sea anemones provided firm evidence, and no studies firmly supported operant conditioning in Cnidaria, although several provided suggestive evidence. More research on associative learning in this phylum is needed.

Keywords:

• Sea anemone
• hydra
• box jellyfish
• jellyfish
• associative learning
• non-associative learning
• habituation
• sensitization
• classical conditioning
• operant conditionin

Acknowledgments

The author declares no conflict of interest. Animal ethical considerations and raw data do not apply as this article reports only already-published work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.