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Document Type
Poster
Description
While earthworms have largely been studied for their role in eliminating toxic metals from soil, less is known about their behavior overall. Previous work from our lab found that a predator-like auditory stimulus (grunting) reliably induced fear-related freezing behavior (Worthen et al., 2024). The present studies further explore earthworm behaviors in response to audio-vibratory stimuli. In Experiment 1, we manipulated amplitude levels and speaker location to examine the parameters needed to reliably induce a freezing fear response to the grunting sound. It was hypothesized that when the speaker was touching the apparatus and producing an added mechanical vibration, there would be higher rates of freezing than sound without added vibration. In Experiment 2, a paired classical conditioning paradigm was administered using a similar auditory-vibratory conditioned stimulus (CS) and a bright light as the unconditioned stimulus (US). It was hypothesized that there would be an increase in anticipatory withdrawal responses during the CS. Experiment 2 provides preliminary evidence for fear-related classical conditioning in Eisenia Fetida.
Publication Date
2025
Keywords
Earthworms; Auditory Stimuli; Vibratory Stiumli
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Engineering | Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Colleges & Schools
Science and Mathematics
Department
Psychology
Repository Citation
Singh , N., Burton , A., & Claflin , D. I. (2025). A Systematic Study of Freezing Behavior in Earthworms in Response to Auditory and Vibratory Stimuli. .
Faculty Advisor Name
Dragana Claflin
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Arts and Humanities Commons, Engineering Commons, Life Sciences Commons, Medicine and Health Sciences Commons, Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons, Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons
