A variety of animals have been found to interact with and manipulate inanimate objects 'just for fun', that is, play. Most clear examples object play come from mammals birds. However, whether insects as a form has never systematically examined. Here, we show rolling wooden balls by bumble bees, Bombus terrestris, fulfils behavioural criteria animal is akin in other animals. We ball (1) did not contribute immediate survival strategies, (2) was intrinsically rewarding, (3) differed functional...

The astonishing behavioural repertoires of social insects have been thought largely innate, but these repeatedly demonstrated remarkable capacities for both individual and learning. Using the bumblebee Bombus terrestris as a model, we developed two-option puzzle box task used open diffusion paradigms to observe transmission novel, nonnatural foraging behaviours through populations. Box-opening behaviour spread colonies seeded with demonstrator trained perform 1 2 possible variants, observers...

Synaptic plasticity is considered to be a basis for learning and memory. However, the relationship between synaptic arrangements individual differences in memory poorly understood. Here, we explored how density of microglomeruli (synaptic complexes) within specific regions bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) brain relates both visual inter-individual performance on discrimination task. Using whole-brain immunolabelling, measured collar region (visual association areas) mushroom bodies brain. We...

We examined how bees solve a visual discrimination task with stimuli commonly used in numerical cognition studies. Bees performed well on the task, but additional tests showed that they had learned continuous (non-numerical) cues. A network model using biologically plausible feature filtering and simple associative rule was capable of learning only cues inherent training stimuli, no processing. This also able to reproduce behaviours have been considered other studies indicative cognition....

Abstract Bees are flexible and adaptive learners, capable of learning stimuli seen on arrival at departure from flowers where they have fed. This gives bees the potential to learn all information associated with a feeding event, but it also presents challenge managing that is irrelevant, inconsistent, or conflicting. Here, we examined how presenting bumblebees conflicting visual before after influenced their rate what learned. were trained feeder stations mounted in front computer monitor....

Abstract Most research in comparative cognition focuses on measuring if animals manage certain tasks; fewer studies explore how might solve them. We investigated bumblebees’ scanning strategies a numerosity task, distinguishing patterns with two items from four and one three, subsequently transferring numerical information to novel numbers, shapes, colors. Video analyses of flight paths indicate that bees do not determine the number by using rapid assessment (as mammals “subitizing”);...

The honeybee olfactory system is a well-established model for understanding functional mechanisms of learning and memory. Olfactory stimuli are first processed in the antennal lobe, then transferred to mushroom body lateral horn through dual pathways termed medial lobe tracts (m-ALT l-ALT). Recent studies reported that honeybees can perform elemental by associating an odour with reward signal even after lesions m-ALT or blocking bodies. To test hypothesis pathway (l-ALT) sufficient learning,...

Honey bee ecology demands they make both rapid and accurate assessments of which flowers are most likely to offer them nectar or pollen. To understand the mechanisms honey decision-making, we examined their speed accuracy flower acceptance rejection decisions. We used a controlled flight arena that varied likelihood stimulus offering reward punishment quality evidence for stimuli. found sophistication decision-making rivalled reported primates. Their decisions were sensitive reliability...

Abstract Natural visual stimuli are typically complex. This presents animals with the challenge of learning most informative aspects these while not being confused by variable elements. How might do this remains unclear. Here, we tested bumblebees’ ability to learn multicomponent composed a simple constant bar element and grating that was consistent in orientation but varied width number gratings. Bees rapidly successfully learned compound stimuli. Tests revealed single more robust than...

Mapping animal performance in a behavioral task to underlying cognitive mechanisms and strategies is rarely straightforward, since may be solvable more than one manner. Here, we show that bumblebees perform well on concept-based visual discrimination task, but spontaneously switch from solution simpler heuristic with extended training, all while continually increasing performance. Bumblebees were trained an arena find reward displays shapes of different sizes where they could not use...

Honeybees forage on diverse flowers which vary in the amount and type of rewards they offer, bees are challenged with maximizing resources gather for their colony. That effective foragers is clear, but how solve this complex multi-choice task unknown. Here, we set a five-comparison choice five colours differed probability offering reward punishment. The were ranked such that high more likely to offer reward, ranking was unambiguous. Bees' choices unrewarded tests matched individual...

True colour vision requires comparing the responses of different spectral classes photoreceptors. In insects, there is a wealth data available on physiology photoreceptors and colour-dependent behaviour, but less known about neural mechanisms that link two. The information in bees indicates diversity opponent neurons visual optic ganglia significantly exceeds humans other primates. Here, we present simple mathematical model for processing lobes to explore how this might arise. We found can...

Abstract Active vision, the ability of visual system to actively sample and select relevant information out a scene through eye head movements, has been explored in variety animal species. Small-brained animals such as insects might rely even more on sequential acquisition pattern features since there be less parallel processing capacity their brains than vertebrates. To investigate how active vision strategies enable bees solve tasks, here, we employed simple discrimination task which...

Using social information can be an efficient strategy for learning in a new environment while reducing the risks associated with trial-and-error learning. Whereas from conspecifics has long been assumed to preferentially attended by animals, heterospecifics also provide relevant information. Because different species may vary their informative value, using heterospecific indiscriminately ineffective and even detrimental. Here, we evaluated how selective use of might arise at proximate level...

Abstract Bees are flexible and adaptive learners, capable of learning stimuli seen on arrival at departure from flowers where they have fed. This gives bees the potential to learn all information associated with a feeding event, but it also presents challenge managing that is irrelevant, inconsistent, or conflicting. Here, we examined how presenting bumblebees conflicting before after influenced their rate what learned. were trained feeder stations mounted in front computer monitor. Visual...

The traditional understanding of brain function has predominantly focused on chemical and electrical processes. However, new research in fruit fly (Drosophila) binocular vision reveals ultrafast photomechanical photoreceptor movements significantly enhance information processing, thereby impacting a fly's perception its environment behaviour. coding advantages resulting from these mechanical processes suggest that similar physical motion-based strategies may affect neural communication...

Abstract Honey bee ecology demands they make both rapid and accurate assessments of which flowers are most likely to offer them nectar or pollen. To understand the mechanisms honey decision-making we examined their speed accuracy flower acceptance rejection decisions. We used a controlled flight arena that varied likelihood stimulus offering reward punishment quality evidence for stimuli. found sophistication rivalled reported primates. Their decisions were sensitive reliability evidence....

Abstract Bees possess remarkable cognitive abilities in on-the-fly visual learning, making them an ideal model for studying active information acquisition and representation. In this study, we investigated the minimal circuitry required vision bees by considering their flight behaviours during pattern scanning. By developing a neural network inspired insect system, examined influence of scanning behaviour on optic lobe connectivity activity. Through incorporation non-associative learning...

Abstract In uncertain environments, animals often face the challenge of deciding whether to stay with their current foraging option or leave pursue next opportunity. The voluntary decision persist at a location one is critical cognitive ability in animal temporal decision-making. Little known about insects form expectations reward and how these affect learning rapid, short-term decisions. Here, we trained bumblebees on simple colour discrimination task whereby they entered different opaque...

Abstract Mapping animal performance in a behavioural task to underlying cognitive mechanisms and strategies is rarely straightforward, since may be solvable more than one manner. Here, we show that bumblebees perform well on concept-based visual discrimination task, but spontaneously switch from solution simpler heuristic with extended training, all while continually increasing performance. Bumblebees were trained an arena find reward displays shapes of different sizes where they could not...

Abstract Honey bees forage on a range of flowers, all which can vary unpredictably in the amount and type rewards they offer. In this environment are challenged with maximising resources gather for their colony. That effective foragers is clear, but how solve complex multi-choice task unknown. Here we five-comparison choice five colours differed probability offering reward punishment. The were ranked such that high more likely to offer reward, ranking was unambiguous. Bees choices unrewarded...