A demonstration of virtual reality in free-flying honeybees: Apis mellifera.
Two experiments are reported on virtual reality illusion in free-flying honeybees. In the first experiment, subjects are trained on a simultaneous discrimination between two colored targets, one of which contains a sucrose reward. The ability to be influenced by a virtual reality illusion was assessed during an extinction test in which the training stimuli were a mirage of those used during acquisition. The results indicate that the bees consistently attempt to land on the previously rewarded color despite the fact that it is not there. In a second experiment, bees were unable to discriminate between two simultaneously presented, identically colored targets--one of which was real, the other a mirage.
Abramson
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CI
Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078, USA.
Buckbee
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DA
Edwards
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S
Bowe
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K
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007088:Illusions; D012201:Reward