If you require multitude to remember you , merchandising courses teach : be first in a Modern field , not second or third in an established one . snail have much more limited memories than us , but the same rule holds .
Dr Michael Crossleyof the University of Sussex set out to see how much he could teach pond escargot . It may seem an unusual ambition , but Crossley explained in astatement : " The brain of a escargot is much simple than ours but there are some key latitude , which intend studying them can aid us to understand more about our own abilities for encyclopaedism and remembering . ” It ’s also probably a moderation to have test subjects with limited escape potential .
When Crossley tried to teach his charges two thing in succession he found they could remember both if they were unrelated . However , when the two item were similar , the snails could n’t handle to hold both in their slimy little heads .
InCommunications Biology , Crossley explain that similar memories were overwrite on a single neuron , which could not hold both . Different topics were filed with different neurons .
Of naturally humankind , or snails , can eventually ascertain to commend multiple nearly related facts , or Romance declensions would be even more diabolical than they are . To achieve this , timing is as significant as subject . We stack away what we learn initially in forgetful - term retentiveness , and afterward consolidate those parts that seem important in long - full term memory . Crossley ’s challenge his snail with raw facts before they ’d consolidate the old one , something he compares to being introduced to several multitude at once and contend to think of all their names .
Crossley gave his snails their second lesson either one , two , or 24 hours after the first . An 60 minutes after learning something snails still have it in their forgetful - full term memory . A daylight by and by it has been wobble to foresightful - full term , but two hours hang into a “ memory board lapse ” menstruation where the information is in the summons of being shuttled between .
If the lessons were different , timing did n’t count – both stuck . When they were too exchangeable , however , it was the first one that hold when they come close together , but legal transfer during the lapse saw the 2nd one override the first . After a day the snail had consolidate the first memory and were ready to learn more .
If you ’re curious to know what counts as similar and dissimilar lessons for a snail , Crossley either taught them to associate chemicals with a sugar reward , or with bitter savouring quinine .
Although more unsounded deterrent example about the nature of learning may finally emerge from this work , Crossley points to an immediate illustration of advice snails can offer . He suggests students studying for examination should trade back and forward between their subject , rather than saturating on any particular matter .
