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Behavioural analysis of single-cell aneural ciliate, Stentor roeseli, using machine learning approaches.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Authors

Trinh, Mi Kieu 
Wayland, Matthew T 
Prabakaran, Sudhakaran  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6527-1085

Abstract

There is still a significant gap between our understanding of neural circuits and the behaviours they compute-i.e. the computations performed by these neural networks (Carandini 2012 Nat. Neurosci.15, 507-509. (doi:10.1038/nn.3043)). Cellular decision-making processes, learning, behaviour and memory formation-all that have been only associated with animals with neural systems-have also been observed in many unicellular aneural organisms, namely Physarum, Paramecium and Stentor (Tang & Marshall2018 Curr. Biol.28, R1180-R1184. (doi:10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.015)). As these are fully functioning organisms, yet being unicellular, there is a much better chance to elucidate the detailed mechanisms underlying these learning processes in these organisms without the complications of highly interconnected neural circuits. An intriguing learning behaviour observed in Stentor roeseli (Jennings 1902 Am. J. Physiol. Legacy Content8, 23-60. (doi:10.1152/ajplegacy.1902.8.1.23)) when stimulated with carmine has left scientists puzzled for more than a century. So far, none of the existing learning paradigm can fully encapsulate this particular series of five characteristic avoidance reactions. Although we were able to observe all responses described in the literature and in a previous study (Dexter et al. 2019), they do not conform to any particular learning model. We then investigated whether models inferred from machine learning approaches, including decision tree, random forest and feed-forward artificial neural networks could infer and predict the behaviour of S. roeseli. Our results showed that an artificial neural network with multiple 'computational' neurons is inefficient at modelling the single-celled ciliate's avoidance reactions. This has highlighted the complexity of behaviours in aneural organisms. Additionally, this report will also discuss the significance of elucidating molecular details underlying learning and decision-making processes in these unicellular organisms, which could offer valuable insights that are applicable to higher animals.

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Keywords

aneural organisms, machine learning, single-cell behaviour, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Ciliophora, Machine Learning, Models, Biological, Nerve Net, Video Recording

Journal Title

J R Soc Interface

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1742-5689
1742-5662

Volume Title

16

Publisher

The Royal Society

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All rights reserved
Sponsorship
KMT is funded by Cambridge Trust Scholarship and Trinity Overseas Bursaries; SP is funded by the Cambridge-DBT lectureship.