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The vertical lobe of cephalopods: an attractive brain structure for understanding the evolution of advanced learning and memory systems

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Abstract

In this review we show that the cephalopod vertical lobe (VL) provides a good system for assessing the level of evolutionary convergence of the function and organization of neuronal circuitry for mediating learning and memory in animals with complex behavior. The pioneering work of JZ Young described the morphological convergence of the VL with the mammalian hippocampus, cerebellum and the insect mushroom body. Studies in octopus and cuttlefish VL networks suggest evolutionary convergence into a universal organization of connectivity as a divergence-convergence (‘fan-out fan-in’) network with activity-dependent long-term plasticity mechanisms. Yet, these studies also show that the properties of the neurons, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and mechanisms of long-term potentiation (LTP) induction and maintenance are highly variable among different species. This suggests that complex networks may have evolved independently multiple times and that even though memory and learning networks share similar organization and cellular processes, there are many molecular ways of constructing them.

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Abbreviations

5-HT:

Serotonin

AM:

Amacrine interneuron

fPSP:

Postsynaptic field potential

LFP:

Local field potential

LTD:

Long-term depression

LTP:

Long-term potentiation

LN:

Large efferent neuron

MYA:

Million years ago

NMDAR:

NMDA-like receptors

NO:

Nitric oxide

NOS:

Nitric oxide synthase

OA:

Octopamine

SFL:

Superior frontal lobe

TP:

Tract potential

VL:

Vertical lobe

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Acknowledgments

Our research is supported by the United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation (Grant Numbers 2011466) to BH and JB, the Israel Science Foundation (Grant Numbers 1425-11) to BH and the Smith Family Laboratory at the Hebrew University. ALTM was supported by the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences of the Hebrew University. We thank Jenny Kien for editorial assistance and suggestions. All applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

    T. Shomrat, A. L. Turchetti-Maia, N. Stern-Mentch & B. Hochner

  2. School of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret, Israel

    T. Shomrat & N. Stern-Mentch

  3. Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    J. A. Basil

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  1. T. Shomrat
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  5. B. Hochner
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Correspondence to B. Hochner.

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Shomrat, T., Turchetti-Maia, A.L., Stern-Mentch, N. et al. The vertical lobe of cephalopods: an attractive brain structure for understanding the evolution of advanced learning and memory systems. J Comp Physiol A 201, 947–956 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-015-1023-6

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