Meeting Abstract

P2.119  Sunday, Jan. 5 15:30  Same-Different Discrimination in Honeybees (Apis mellifera) ALCOVER, K.C.*; SHISHIMI, G.; COUVILLON, P.A.; Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa; Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa; Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa karlchri@hawaii.edu

Honeybee learning is so similar to that of vertebrates that the basic associative learning principles may be the same invertebrates and vertebrates. Recent research is focused on more complex cognitive phenomena. In two experiments, we explored the ability of honeybees to learn same-different relationships. Individual free-flying bees were trained to visit a laboratory window for sucrose solution, fly back to the hive to unload and return to the window. In Experiment 1, 8 bees were trained in an oddity discrimination. On each visit to the window, the bee found three stimuli, two identical and one different. Choice of the odd stimulus was rewarded with sucrose, and choice of the non-odd stimuli was punished with an aversive solution. The stimuli on each trial were unique and could vary in color, shape, size and pattern. To choose correctly, the bees had to learn the relationship of the stimuli. Performance was better than chance. In Experiment 2, bees were trained in a same-different discrimination. On each visit, the bee found two pairs of stimuli, one same and the other different. For 8 bees in the Same Group, choice of the same pair was rewarded and choice of the different pair was punished. For 8 bees in the Different Group, choice of the different pair was rewarded and choice of the same pair was punished. The pairs on each trial were unique, so to choose correctly, the bees had to learn the relationship of the pairs. Performance was better than chance. The results indicate learning about stimulus relationships which could be interpreted as concept learning.