A special type of jellyfish, more precisely a type of small jellyfish (Tripedalia cystophora), which, although it does not have a brain, can accurately remember the past. This is the exceptional discovery of scientists led by Jan Bielecki, a neurobiologist from the University of Kiel in Germany.
This discovery was published in the scientific journal “Current Biology”, and actually indicates that almost anything with just a few neurons and a way to sense the environment can adapt and adjust its behavior based on acquired experiences.
“Learning is the ultimate performance for the nervous system,” Bielecki said.
Namely, this type of jellyfish contains visual structures consisting of almost a thousand photoreceptors. These nerves also serve as sensory systems and integration centers, helping the jellyfish to pulse in search of prey.
It didn’t take long for their enthusiasm to wane. By the end of the 7.5 minute experiment, the jellyfish had rotated an average of 4 times more often and increased the distance between themselves and the wall by half. This reflects altered behavior in response to the newly encountered obstacle.
Source: ScienceAlert