![]() Moreover, field studies have led to the discovery of a robust visually guided chasing behavior in Neohelice. In addition, behavioral analyses performed in the natural environment reveal a more complex picture: crabs make use of much more information than is usually available in laboratory studies. This work, in combination with neuroanatomical and electrophysiological studies, has allowed the identification of various giant neurons, the activity of which reflects most essential aspects of the crabs' avoidance performance. Analyses of the behavioral responses to visual stimuli in the laboratory have revealed the main characteristics of the crab's performance, such as the continuous regulation of the speed and direction of the escape run, or the enduring changes in the strength of escape induced by learning and memory. In this Review, we describe current knowledge – acquired through both laboratory and field studies – on the visually guided escape behavior of the crab Neohelice granulata. Studies in the laboratory alone, however, can lead to a biased interpretation of an animal's behavior in its natural environment. Naturally occurring avoidance behaviors, in particular, can be easily and reliably evoked in the laboratory, enabling their neurophysiological investigation. ![]() They require fast reactions controlled by comparatively straightforward neural circuits often containing giant neurons, which facilitates their study with electrophysiological techniques. Predator avoidance and prey capture are among the most vital of animal behaviors.
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