title: Conceptualization of relative size by honeybees.
abstract: The ability to process visual information using relational rules allows for decisions independent of the specific physical attributes of individual stimuli. Until recently, the manipulation of relational concepts was considered as a prerogative of large mammalian brains. Here we show that individual free flying honeybees can learn to use size relationship rules to choose either the larger or smaller stimulus as the correct solution in a given context, and subsequently apply the learnt rule to novel colors and shapes providing that there is sufficient input to the long wavelength (green) photoreceptor channel. Our results add a novel, size-based conceptual rule to the set of relational concepts that honeybees have been shown to master and underline the value of bees as an animal model for studying the emergence of conceptualization abilities.
authors.affiliation: Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University London London, UK.
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avarguès-Weber
authors.affiliation: Institut für Zoologie III (Neurobiologie), Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: d'Amaro
authors.affiliation: Institut für Zoologie III (Neurobiologie), Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Metzler
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Monash University Clayton, VIC, Australia ; School of Media and Communication, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Dyer
keywords: Apis mellifera; honeybee; long wavelength photoreceptor; relational concept learning; relative size