Biology Weekly Seminar - Ken Lukowiak

Some snails are smarter than others, why and how substances in food alter cognitive ability

Dr. Lukowiak’s research focuses on how stress alters learning and memory formation using an invertebrate model system, the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. Some strains of snails are smarter than others.  He studys why this is at the individual neuronal level and importantly what is the cost of being smart. So far, a major cost is that smart snails do not handle stress as well as average snails. Finally, he  studys how naturally occurring compounds in food alter cognitive ability.