Aversive Learning and Memory as a Function of Signal Intensity in the Honey Bee

Learning and memory processes are critical for survival, for instance, the establishment and maintenance of negative associations.  Negative associations help the individual avoid high risk areas (e.g. due to predation) or unpalatable resources, amongst a host of various other scenarios.  Honey bees have served as behavioral models for many of these learning processes.  Due to their social nature, the impact of these negative associations can be studied at both the individual and colony (social) level.  Our study focuses on individual level acquisition (learning) and consolidation (memory).  Specifically, we examine how the intensity of the aversive signal, an electric shock of different voltage and amperage, affects the associative process.  We tested adult foraging honey bees in an electric shock avoidance assay.  In our assay individual bees were presented with two colors (blue and yellow), one of which was paired with an electric shock during two five minute training sessions.  We hypothesize that higher intensity signals will induce faster rates of acquisition and better retention of the association.  Examination of how intensity of a signal can affect learning and memory is critical in our understanding of the nature of these processes as they have ecological, evolutionary and practical implications.