Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
Anim Cogn. 2012 Nov;15(6):1183-93. doi: 10.1007/s10071-012-0542-6. Epub 2012 Jul 27.
In honeybees, the conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER) has provided a powerful tool to explore the mechanisms underlying olfactory learning and memory. Unfortunately, PER conditioning does not work well for visual stimuli in intact honeybees, and performance is improved only after antennal amputation, thus limiting the analysis of visual learning and multimodal integration. Here, we study visual learning using the PER protocol in harnessed bumblebees, which exhibit high levels of odor learning under restrained conditions. We trained bumblebees in a differential task in which two colors differed in their rewarding values. We recorded learning performance as well as response latency and accuracy. Bumblebees rapidly learned the task and discriminated the colors within the first two trials. However, performance varied between combinations of colors and was higher when blue or violet was associated with a high reward. Overall, accuracy and speed were negatively associated, but both components increased during acquisition. We conclude that PER conditioning is a good tool to study visual learning, using Bombus impatiens as a model, opening new possibilities to analyze the proximate mechanisms of visual learning and memory, as well as the process of multimodal integration and decision-making.
在蜜蜂中，味觉感受延伸反应（PER）的条件作用为探索嗅觉学习和记忆的机制提供了有力的工具。不幸的是，完整蜜蜂的 PER 条件作用不适用于视觉刺激，并且只有在触角截断后性能才会提高，从而限制了对视觉学习和多模态整合的分析。在这里，我们使用束缚的大黄蜂中的 PER 方案研究视觉学习，大黄蜂在受限条件下表现出高水平的气味学习。我们在差异任务中训练大黄蜂，其中两种颜色在奖励价值上有所不同。我们记录了学习表现以及反应潜伏期和准确性。大黄蜂在头两个试验中迅速学会了任务并区分了颜色。然而，颜色组合之间的性能存在差异，并且当蓝色或紫色与高奖励相关联时，性能更高。总的来说，准确性和速度呈负相关，但两者在获得过程中都有所增加。我们得出结论，PER 条件作用是研究视觉学习的一种很好的工具，使用 Bombus impatiens 作为模型，为分析视觉学习和记忆的近似机制以及多模态整合和决策过程开辟了新的可能性。
