TY - JOUR
T1 - Honeybee cognition as a tool for scientific engagement
AU - Denton, Jai A.
AU - Koludarov, Ivan
AU - Thompson, Michele
AU - Bryk, Jarosław
AU - Velasque, Mariana
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments: We would like to acknowledge the support of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Diversity Section. We would also like to thank all participants of the 2018 Ryukyu Girls program for their enthusiasm and dedication.
Funding Information:
Funding: J.A.D.: I.K. and M.V. were supported by the Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology. Experimental materials were supported by the Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology and MV. Subsequent analysis and manuscript collation was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grants 19K06795 and 19K16205 awarded to J.A.D. and M.V. respectively. The Ryukyu Girls program and participants were supported by Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawan Prefectural Board of Education, Okinawan Prefectural Government, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University Promotion Council and the ‘FY2018 GST Female Jr. high and high school student support program.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/9/18
Y1 - 2021/9/18
N2 - Apis mellifera (honeybees) are a well-established model for the study of learning and cognition. A robust conditioning protocol, the olfactory conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER), provides a powerful but straightforward method to examine the impact of varying stimuli on learning performance. Herein, we provide a protocol that leverages PER for classroom-based community or student engagement. Specifically, we detail how a class of high school students, as part of the Ryukyu Girls Outreach Program, examined the effects of caffeine and dopamine on learning performance in honeybees. Using a modified version of the PER conditioning protocol, they demonstrated that caffeine, but not dopamine, significantly reduced the number of trials required for a successful conditioning response. In addition to providing an engaging and educational scientific activity, it could be employed, with careful oversight, to garner considerable reliable data examining the effects of varying stimuli on honeybee learning.
AB - Apis mellifera (honeybees) are a well-established model for the study of learning and cognition. A robust conditioning protocol, the olfactory conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER), provides a powerful but straightforward method to examine the impact of varying stimuli on learning performance. Herein, we provide a protocol that leverages PER for classroom-based community or student engagement. Specifically, we detail how a class of high school students, as part of the Ryukyu Girls Outreach Program, examined the effects of caffeine and dopamine on learning performance in honeybees. Using a modified version of the PER conditioning protocol, they demonstrated that caffeine, but not dopamine, significantly reduced the number of trials required for a successful conditioning response. In addition to providing an engaging and educational scientific activity, it could be employed, with careful oversight, to garner considerable reliable data examining the effects of varying stimuli on honeybee learning.
KW - Associative learning
KW - Citizen science
KW - Honeybee cognition
KW - Honeybee learning
KW - Memory
KW - Proboscis extension response
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115634872&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/insects12090842
DO - 10.3390/insects12090842
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85115634872
VL - 12
JO - Insects
JF - Insects
SN - 2075-4450
IS - 9
M1 - 842
ER -