The ''Worm Runner's Digest'' (''W.R.D.'') was created in 1959 by biologist

James V. McConnell James V. McConnell (October 26, 1925 – April 9, 1990) was an American biologist and animal psychologist. He is most known for his research on learning and memory transfer in planarians conducted in the 1950s and 1960s. McConnell also publish ...

after his experiments with memory transfer in planarian worms generated a torrent of mail enquiries. The ''W.R.D.'' published both satirical articles, such as "A Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown", and scientific papers, the most famous of which, "Memory transfer through cannibalism in planaria", was a result of McConnell's

RNA Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. RNA and deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) are nucleic acids. Along with lipids, proteins, and carbohydra ...

memory transfer experiments with planarian worms and was later published in the ''

Journal of Neuropsychiatry A journal, from the Old French ''journal'' (meaning "daily"), may refer to: *Bullet journal, a method of personal organization *Diary, a record of what happened over the course of a day or other period *Daybook, also known as a general journal, a ...

''. The title for the W.R.D., McConnell explained, was an extension of the

psychological Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between t ...

jargon that terms psychologists who work with rats "rat runners" and those who work with insects "bug runners." After complaints that the satirical articles and the scientific publications were not distinguishable, the satirical articles were printed upside down in the back half of the ''W.R.D.'' along with a topsy turvy back cover. In 1966, the title was changed to the ''

Journal of Biological Psychology A journal, from the Old French ''journal'' (meaning "daily"), may refer to: *Bullet journal, a method of personal organization *Diary, a record of what happened over the course of a day or other period *Daybook, also known as a general journal, a ...

'' in an effort to make the publication more acceptable to the scientific community. The magazine ceased publication in 1979. Articles from the ''Worm Runner's Digest'' have been compiled and printed in a number of

anthologies In book publishing Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed work ...

, including ''Science, Sex, and Sacred Cows'' and ''The Worm Re-Turns''.

References

{{Reflist Satirical magazines published in the United States Zoology journals Animal and pet magazines English-language magazines Magazines established in 1959 Magazines disestablished in 1979 Defunct magazines published in the United States 1959 establishments in the United States 1979 disestablishments in the United States

See also

References