Download or read book Molluscan Neuroscience written by Paul S. Katz and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Molluscan nervous systems have played significant historical roles in neuroscience research and continue to serve as important models for learning, memory, motor control, and recovery from injury. They have a number of unique features that make them amenable to neuroscience research; in particular, gastropod molluscs have identifiable neurons that have large cell bodies and form discrete neural circuits. Research on gastropods has led to general insights into responses to neural injury, which shows striking similarities to neural plasticity during learning. Molluscs also provide insights into the evolution of nervous systems. There has been a considerable conservation of molecular machinery across phyla as well as a remarkable convergence in the complex nervous systems of cephalopods and vertebrates. This publication offers a valuable and fascinating source of information for all neuroscientists and for anyone with an interest in comparative studies and in the evolution of nervous systems.