Do butterflies remember what they learned when they were deep?

Butterflies are known for their ability to change incredible shapes from caterpillars to adult winged butterflies. In this fundamental change, butterflies not only transform in body shape, but also in lifestyle, diet and independence in sensory cues. It seems that adult butterflies cannot remember the relationships or memories of what larvae or caterpillars have acquired. However, scientists at Georgetown University recently discovered that butterflies can remember what it experienced as a worm.

Georgetown researchers found that thorns can be trained to avoid some scents that cause mild shock. When mature butterflies get out of the cocoons of caterpillars, they are also trained, they also avoid those aromas, which indicates that they retain the larva's memories. The Georgetown University study is the first to confirm that memories can be preserved through metamorphosis of form and nature in the beetle species - insects that include butterflies - and give new questions about the structure and persistence of the central nervous system in the shape transformation process.

(Photo: iStockphoto / Cathy Keifer)

'The fascinating idea of ​​caterpillar experiences can continue to exist in mature butterflies that make people imagine, because it challenges a wider view of butterfly metamorphosis - the larvae need to turn into liquid form and its components are completely reconstructed to become a butterfly ' author Martha Weiss said, Georgetown University biology professor.

'Scientists are always interested in the question of whether memories can last for hundreds of years,' said the first author, Doug Blackiston. He completed an interdisciplinary study while obtaining Georgetown doctorate in biology in the labs of biologist Elena Casey and behavioral ecologist Martha Weiss. The brain and nervous system of caterpillars are suddenly reorganized during the pupae stage and it is impossible to know whether memories can survive such dramatic sudden changes.

The findings of Georgetown researchers suggest that memory retention depends on the level of brain development of caterpillars . Caterpillars less than 3 weeks old seek to avoid scent, but are able to relive this as adults; while the caterpillars are older, as in the late stage larvae before pupating, learning how to avoid the fragrance and can remember this as an adult. In addition, the results are related to both ecology and evolution as the memory retention after the metamorphosis of the shape may allow a female butterfly or another insect to spawn on the nest that once lived. as a larvae, an action that represents the choice of habitat and ultimately leads to the formation of a new species.

While most studies of insect collection and memory focus on herds, such as honey bees or ants, Weiss' laboratory is very interested in independent living insects such as butterflies, mantis, and wasps. Weiss and his colleagues will continue to study independent, multitasking insects using learning and memory skills to adapt to the environment.

The study goes beyond the detailed study of neurons currently taking place in Casey's laboratory. Casey, Georgetown biology professor, focuses on identifying the signals needed to control a neuron becoming a neuron and the complexity in the development and evolution of the central nervous system. of human.

Blackiston, studying a postdoctoral degree at the Forsyth Center for Regeneration & Development Biology and the Department of Biology developed at Harvard Dental School, also studied the learning and memory of bone animals. live the sea.

Reference: Blackiston DJ, Silva Casey E, Weiss MR (2008) Memory retention through metamorphosis: Can butterflies remember what they learn when they are deep? PLos One 3 (3): e1736. doi: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0001736