ArticleFrontiers in physiology2012
The dynamics of group formation among leeches.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Circuit-constrained molecular neuroethology in the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana.Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology · 2026Review
- Repetitive nociceptive stimulation elicits complex behavioral changes in Hirudo: evidence of arousal and motivational adaptations.The Journal of experimental biology · 2023Article
- Serotonin mediates stress-like effects on responses to non-nociceptive stimuli in the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana.The Journal of experimental biology · 2022Article
- Scanning behavior in the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana.PloS one · 2014Article
- Extrasynaptic release of serotonin affects the social dynamics of leeches.Frontiers in physiology · 2012Article
- Extrasynaptic exocytosis and its mechanisms: a source of molecules mediating volume transmission in the nervous system.Frontiers in physiology · 2012Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
Leeches exploring a new environment continuously meet each other and merge in temporary groups. After 2-3 h, leeches become attracted to each other eventually forming a large and stable group. When their number is reduced, leeches remain solitary, behaving independently. Group formation is facilitated by body injection of serotonin (5-HT) and the level of endogenous 5-HT is elevated in leeches forming a large group. In contrast, intravenous injection of 5-HT antagonists prevented injected leeches from joining a large group of conspecifics. When sensilla near the head were ablated or the supraesophageal ganglion disconnected, leeches remained solitary, but explored the environment swimming and crawling. These results suggest that group formation is initiated by a release of 5-HT triggered by sensilla stimulation and its dynamics can be explained by the establishment of a reinforcement dynamics, as observed during human group formation. As 5-HT affects social interactions also in humans, group formation in leeches and humans share a similar dynamics and hormonal control.
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