Learning of bimodal versus unimodal signals in restrained bumble bees
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Date
2020Corporate Author(s)
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Grupo de investigación CANNON
Type
Artículo de revista
ISSN
0022-0949 / 1477-9145 (Electrónico)
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Abstract
Similar to animal communication displays, flowers emit complex
signals that attract pollinators. Signal complexity could lead to higher
cognitive load for pollinators, impairing performance, or might benefit
them by facilitating learning, memory and decision making. Here, we
evaluated learning and memory in foragers of the bumble bee
Bombus impatiens trained to simple (unimodal) versus complex
(bimodal) signals under restrained conditions. Use of a proboscis
extension response protocol enabled us to control the timing and
duration of stimuli presented during absolute and differential learning
tasks. Overall, we observed broad variation in performance under the
two conditions, with bees trained to compound bimodal signals
learning and remembering as well as, better than or more poorly than
bees trained to unimodal signals. Interestingly, the outcome of
training was affected by the specific colour–odour combination.
Among unimodal stimuli, the performance with odour stimuli was
higher than with colour stimuli, suggesting that olfactory signals
played a more significant role in the compound bimodal condition.
This was supported by the fact that after 24 h, most bimodal-treatment
bees responded to odour but not visual stimuli. We did not observe
differences in latency of response, suggesting that signal composition
affected decision accuracy, not speed. We conclude that restrained
bumble bee workers exhibit broad variation of responses to bimodal
stimuli and that components of the bimodal signal may not be used
equivalently. The analysis of bee performance under restrained
conditions enables accurate control of the multimodal stimuli provided
to individuals and to study the interaction of individual components
within a compound.
Link to the resource
https://jeb.biologists.org/content/223/10/jeb220103.supplementalSource
Journal of Experimental Biology; Volumen 223 Número 10 , Páginas 1 - 9 (2020)
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