Conceptualization of relative size by honeybees

Abstract

The ability to process visual information using relational rules allows for decisions independent of the specific physical attributes of individual stimuli. Until recently, the manipulation of relational concepts was considered as a prerogative of large mammalian brains. Here we show that individual free flying honeybees can learn to use size relationship rules to choose either the larger or smaller stimulus as the correct solution in a given context, and subsequently apply the learnt rule to novel colors and shapes providing that there is sufficient input to the long wavelength (green) photoreceptor channel. Our results add a novel, size-based conceptual rule to the set of relational concepts that honeybees have been shown to master and underline the value of bees as an animal model for studying the emergence of conceptualization abilities.

Learning and cognition in insects

“…The same kind of reasoning could be applied for bees rewarded for choosing always the larger stimulus. 75 In other words, the transfer performance of bees in these experiments could be explained not on the basis of a conceptual rule, but just on the basis of purely associative arguments, i.e., in terms the probabilistic association of one stimulus class with reward. As long as this kind of associative interpretations are not excluded (by establishing, e.g., a reinforcement schedule in which all stimuli have exactly the same probability of being reinforced and nonreinforced), conclusions on conceptual learning need to be formulated with caution.…”

“…Thus, it could be possible that in the transfer tests, bees trained for ‘smaller than’ chose the smaller alternative (2.5 × 2.5 cm) because of its higher probabilistic association with reward. The same kind of reasoning could be applied for bees rewarded for choosing always the larger stimulus …”

“…Recent work has argued that that free-flying honeybees learn to solve discrimination problems based on the acquisition of the concepts of 'larger than' or 'smaller than'. 75 Bees were trained to fly into a Y-maze to choose either the larger (6x6 cm) or smaller (1x1 cm) stimulus as the correct solution providing sucrose solution. They subsequently applied the learnt rule to novel colors and shapes of varying and intermediate sizes that preserved the trained relationship.…”

Relational learning in honeybees (Apis mellifera): Oddity and nonoddity discrimination

“…In a recent experiment, Avarguès-Weber et al (2014) conducted an experiment in which honeybees were presented with colored shapes that differed in size. One group of bees was rewarded for choice of the larger shape and the other group was rewarded for choice of the smaller shape.…”

Abstract concept learning in a simple neural network inspired by the insect brain

“…Including a sensory accommodation property to the KCs (Szyszka et al, 2008) makes summed activity in the KCs in response to a stimulus sensitive to repetition, and therefore stimuli encountered successively (same) cause a different magnitude of KC response to novel stimuli (different) irrespective of stimulus specifics. This model is capable of learning sameness and difference rules in a simulation of the Y-maze DMTS and DNMTS tasks applied to honey bees (Figure 3), but in theory it could also solve other abstract concepts related to stimulus magnitude such as quantitative comparisons (Avarguès-Weber and Giurfa, 2013;Avarguès-Weber et al, 2014).…”