Re: Can an earthworm learn simple choices, can you teach worms?

Dear Samantha, I don't know about earthworms but I'm assuming that it can be trained to have associative/dissociative responses similar to the experiments done in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans). In both cases, you can take a group of these organisms and expose them to stimuli that they like -- food -- vs. stimuli they don't like -- in the case of fruit flies it was usually a small electric shock, in the case of the nematodes it was usually an odor like garlic. They can learn to associate the stimuli with a direction in a very simple T junction type maze. It's the same type of response that Pavlov used to train his dogs, paired association. Try doing your research using "worm associative learning". You'll get material on C. elegans research but it will be a place for you to start. You may also want to read up on associative learning, it can help you design your experiment.