Odor discrimination and latent inhibition in Honeybees.

FERNÁNDEZ, V.M; A. ARENAS; W.M. FARINA

Congreso; 42nd International Apicultural Congress; 2011

Latent inhibition (LI) is a phenomenon by which the pre-exposure to a conditioned stimulus (CS) interferes with the subsequent association of this CS with an unconditioned stimulus. We studied the role of pre-exposed odors at different pre-foraging ages on appetitive learning. Bees were exposed to odors under diverse conditions and their learning performances were evaluated using a differential classical conditioning under the proboscis extension response paradigm. We found a learning reduced effect only when exposed-odors were offer as a rewarded CS, which varied with odor identity but not with age. We also studied different odors? concentrations and intervals among exposure and testing. Intervals longer than 24h didn?t show a LI effect unless concentration was increased or exposure was prolonged. In addition we studied the role of biogenic amines in LI signaling; results showed that serotonin might be involved in it. The differential effects found according to the olfactory exposure features could influence learning abilities and thus the propagation of odor information among hive mates.