Once I read about the experiments of a German professor studying the simplest mechanisms of memory formation in primitive creatures. The German did find his simplest mechanisms—generally, Germans always find what they search for. In particular, he put a worm on a narrow board. The worm crawled ahead. Ahead was an electrified wire. Before the wire, according to the German plan, the worm had the option of turning right. After 18464 electric shocks the worm got wise and started to turn. I vividly imagine the confrontation between the worm and the German professor. An hour passes by, two hours, a day, a week. The German is swearing: “Verteufel! Hirnlose Wurm! Ich bin ein Deutsche Professor. I will teach you to follow rules and behave in the proper manner.” And shock him, shock him again. Measuring the body impedance before and after food. Eventually the worm breaks down in tears: “You win, German, I can’t take it anymore.”
-- Dmitry Galkovsky (in my crude translation)