Habituation to visual stimuli is personality-independent in a jumping spider

Jumping spiders display some of the richest visually-mediated behaviors in nature. Vision is indeed the most important sensory modality in these spiders where motion detection and response to visual stimuli allow key behaviors such as hunting, escaping from predators, and mating. These spiders have been used in various experiments demonstrating the existence of good associative learning and memory abilities, whose mechanism parallels that found in vertebrates. Here we focused on the habituation and dis-habituation (H/DH) paradigm, indicating either a gradual decrease in responsiveness to repeated visual stimuli (H), or a recovery of the habituated stimulus (DH). H is an elementary form of non-associative learning and memory, which is expected to vary from individual to individual. The link between personality and H/DH has been shown in many vertebrates, but rarely in invertebrates. To tackle this question we tested whether personality affects H/DH in the jumping spider Menemerus semilimbatus. In our protocol, habituation was assessed by presenting repeatedly a visual stimulus on a screen to spiders tethered on a locomotor compensator. In the same individuals, personality (namely boldness) was assessed in a walking arena equipped with a shelter. We found that M. semilimbatus habituated and dishabituated to our visual stimulus and that they differed in personality along a shy-bold axis. However, contrary to our expectations, personality was not related to learning. We discussed the results and speculated that the nature (neutral value) of the stimulus might have played a role in making learning independent from personality.