RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Integrative Neuroscience of <em>Paramecium</em>, a “Swimming Neuron”
JF eneuro
JO eNeuro
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP ENEURO.0018-21.2021
DO 10.1523/ENEURO.0018-21.2021
VO 8
IS 3
A1 Brette, Romain
YR 2021
UL http://www.eneuro.org/content/8/3/ENEURO.0018-21.2021.abstract
AB Paramecium is a unicellular organism that swims in fresh water by beating thousands of cilia. When it is stimulated (mechanically, chemically, optically, thermally…), it often swims backward then turns and swims forward again. This “avoiding reaction” is triggered by a calcium-based action potential. For this reason, some authors have called Paramecium a “swimming neuron.” This review summarizes current knowledge about the physiological basis of behavior of Paramecium.