The Cap Pushing Response (CPR) is a free-flying technique used to study learning and memory in honey bees (Apis mellifera). The series of experiments outlined in this paper aimed to test whether honey bees exhibit the...The Cap Pushing Response (CPR) is a free-flying technique used to study learning and memory in honey bees (Apis mellifera). The series of experiments outlined in this paper aimed to test whether honey bees exhibit the cognitive concept of “expectancy” utilizing the CPR in a weight differentiation paradigm. Five previous experiments in our laboratory have explored whether the concept of expectancy can account for honey bee performance and have all failed to support the cognitive interpretation. The first experiment examined if bees could differentiate between the two caps in the amount of force they used to push the cap and the distance the cap was pushed when the caps were presented one at a time. The second experiment explored cap weight preference by presenting bees with a choice between the two caps. The third and fourth experiments tested the bee’s ability to expect reward or punishment based on cap weight. Results revealed that bees were found to have a strong preference for the light cap and therefore were not able to expect reward or punishment based on cap weight. These experiments contribute to the debate on whether bees have “cognitive” representations and continue to support the behaviorist interpretation.展开更多
“浙农大 1号”意蜂 (A .m .ligusticaEa)分别与喀尼鄂拉蜂 (A .m .carnica)、卡尔巴阡蜂 (A .m .carpati ca)、高加索蜂 (A .m .caucasica)、乌克兰蜂 (A .m .acervorum)、东北黑蜂 (A .m .spp .)进行正反杂交组配。在山东玉米花期 ,...“浙农大 1号”意蜂 (A .m .ligusticaEa)分别与喀尼鄂拉蜂 (A .m .carnica)、卡尔巴阡蜂 (A .m .carpati ca)、高加索蜂 (A .m .caucasica)、乌克兰蜂 (A .m .acervorum)、东北黑蜂 (A .m .spp .)进行正反杂交组配。在山东玉米花期 ,考察这 6个西方蜜蜂蜂种及 10个正反杂交组合的 95个试验蜂群的蜂花粉生产性能 ,分析杂交一代的杂种优势。结果表明 ,K是 6个纯种中蜂花粉产量最高的蜂种 ,Ea位居第二 ,Ea×D是所有纯种和杂交组合中蜂花粉产量最高的蜂种 ,是培育蜂花粉高产组合的蜂种。杂交组合Ea×D和W×Ea的蜂花粉生产性能具有明显的杂种优势 ,其杂种优势率分别达到 49.5 %和 2 1.1%,其他展开更多
文摘The Cap Pushing Response (CPR) is a free-flying technique used to study learning and memory in honey bees (Apis mellifera). The series of experiments outlined in this paper aimed to test whether honey bees exhibit the cognitive concept of “expectancy” utilizing the CPR in a weight differentiation paradigm. Five previous experiments in our laboratory have explored whether the concept of expectancy can account for honey bee performance and have all failed to support the cognitive interpretation. The first experiment examined if bees could differentiate between the two caps in the amount of force they used to push the cap and the distance the cap was pushed when the caps were presented one at a time. The second experiment explored cap weight preference by presenting bees with a choice between the two caps. The third and fourth experiments tested the bee’s ability to expect reward or punishment based on cap weight. Results revealed that bees were found to have a strong preference for the light cap and therefore were not able to expect reward or punishment based on cap weight. These experiments contribute to the debate on whether bees have “cognitive” representations and continue to support the behaviorist interpretation.
