An examination of the concept of arousal within the context of the sexual behaviour of the snail, Helix aspersa /

• Main Author: Adamo, Shelley A. (Shelley Anne)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1990
• Subjects: Brown garden snail > Reproduction.; Brown garden snail > Sexual behavior.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=74344

Sexual 'arousal' in Helix aspersa can be divided into 2 components, sexual proclivity (the tendency of a snail to respond to conspecific contact with courtship) and sexual arousal (the intensity with which the snail courts). Sexual proclivity and sexual arousal have different effects on feeding and locomotion and are differentially affected by sexual isolation, daily conspecific contact, and by a courtship pheromone found in the digitiform gland mucus. Therefore sexual arousal and sexual proclivity are probably mediated by 2 separate physiological mechanisms. Behavioural state, or the animal's general level of activity, correlates positively with mating behaviour. However, although a central system controlling behavioural state probably exists, it has no direct effect on either sexual proclivity or sexual arousal. Confusion over the term 'arousal', which impedes neuroethological research in this area, would be decreased by the adoption of the terms used in this thesis.