Bragunde Guillermo, González Gabriel, Rossini Carmen
Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, Montevideo, CP 11800, Uruguay.
Graduate Program in Chemistry, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
J Chem Ecol. 2025 Aug 8;51(4):80. doi: 10.1007/s10886-025-01629-8.
The proboscis extension reflex (PER) conditioning protocol is a widely used paradigm for studying learning and memory in honeybees. Accurate and consistent delivery of odor stimuli is essential for ensuring reproducible conditioning results, yet many existing systems require complex and expensive equipment. Here, we present a low-cost, fully documented Arduino-based system for automated volatile delivery during PER conditioning assays. The system integrates solenoid and servo valves, allowing controlled airflow between clean air and odorant channels, with stimulus timing managed by easily modifiable open-source code. Using this setup, we successfully conditioned Apis mellifera workers to associate 1-hexanol with a sucrose reward, achieving response rates comparable to those reported in previous studies. After three conditioning trials, 90% of honeybees exhibited conditioned responses, and 75% retained the association after five trials. This accessible and flexible system provides a reliable tool for researchers and educators aiming to implement classical conditioning protocols without requiring specialized technical expertise or infrastructure.
喙伸反射（PER）条件反射实验方案是研究蜜蜂学习和记忆的一种广泛使用的范式。准确且一致地传递气味刺激对于确保可重复的条件反射结果至关重要，然而许多现有系统需要复杂且昂贵的设备。在此，我们展示一种低成本、有完整文档记录的基于Arduino的系统，用于在PER条件反射实验中自动释放挥发性物质。该系统集成了电磁阀和伺服阀，可控制清洁空气和气味通道之间的气流，刺激时间由易于修改的开源代码管理。使用此装置，我们成功地使意大利蜜蜂工蜂将1 - 己醇与蔗糖奖励联系起来，获得了与先前研究报告相当的反应率。经过三次条件反射试验后，90%的蜜蜂表现出条件反射反应，经过五次试验后，75%的蜜蜂保留了这种关联。这个易于使用且灵活的系统为研究人员和教育工作者提供了一个可靠的工具，使他们无需专业技术知识或基础设施就能实施经典条件反射实验方案。
