title: Serial dilutions: a new area of research for animal behavior.
abstract: This paper attempts to stimulate the psychological investigation of homeopathy and serially agitated dilutions. The history of homeopathy and serial dilutions is provided in a literature review of selected research areas. Two original illustrative experiments are also presented and discussed. The first examined the effect of serially agitated dilutions of Sevin on the mortality rate of honey bees (Apis mellifera). In a second experiment, the effect of serially agitated dilutions of sucrose on proboscis extension in honey bees was assessed. No differences were found between serially agitated dilutions of pesticides and sucrose compared with dilutions alone. Implications, limitations, and proposed further work are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma State University, Laboratory of Comparative Psychology and Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychology, 116 N. Murray, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
authors.forename: Sondra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nolf
authors.forename: David Philip Arthur
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Charles I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Abramson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012721:Carbaryl / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013395:Sucrose; D012721:Carbaryl