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A test of associative olfactory learning in the ant Formica clara (Hymenoptera: Formicidae); the power of a MaLER-based conditioning protocol

A test of associative olfactory learning in the ant Formica clara (Hymenoptera: Formicidae); the... AbstractIn the present study, we tested associative olfactory learning performance of the ant Formica clara in laboratory conditions based on their MaLER responses. Ants were harnessed with the help of a paper-made holder and conditioned in two groups by forward pairing either limonene or eugenol (conditioned stimuli – CS) with a reward (unconditioned stimulus – US). After conditioning, memory tests were performed for each CS 15, 60 and 90 minutes following the conditioning in the absence of US. A further test was performed for each group with the CS of the other group to see if the ants showed an odor generalization. The frequencies of MaLER-positive responses during tests were used as indication of learning performance. Ants learned the association between the CS and US during conditioning for both odors and showed initially significant and gradually decreasing MaLER-positive responses during tests. The results showed that conditioning to the odors was absolute and no generalization was observed. We conclude that associative learning is a universal strategy for ants to adjust their behaviors to environmental changes around them and the MaLER technique is a powerful and easy to apply technique to test learning and memory capacities in ants. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Animal Biology Brill

A test of associative olfactory learning in the ant Formica clara (Hymenoptera: Formicidae); the power of a MaLER-based conditioning protocol

Animal Biology , Volume 73 (1): 13 – Jan 19, 2023

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References (68)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
1570-7555
eISSN
1570-7563
DOI
10.1163/15707563-bja10098
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

AbstractIn the present study, we tested associative olfactory learning performance of the ant Formica clara in laboratory conditions based on their MaLER responses. Ants were harnessed with the help of a paper-made holder and conditioned in two groups by forward pairing either limonene or eugenol (conditioned stimuli – CS) with a reward (unconditioned stimulus – US). After conditioning, memory tests were performed for each CS 15, 60 and 90 minutes following the conditioning in the absence of US. A further test was performed for each group with the CS of the other group to see if the ants showed an odor generalization. The frequencies of MaLER-positive responses during tests were used as indication of learning performance. Ants learned the association between the CS and US during conditioning for both odors and showed initially significant and gradually decreasing MaLER-positive responses during tests. The results showed that conditioning to the odors was absolute and no generalization was observed. We conclude that associative learning is a universal strategy for ants to adjust their behaviors to environmental changes around them and the MaLER technique is a powerful and easy to apply technique to test learning and memory capacities in ants.

Journal

Animal BiologyBrill

Published: Jan 19, 2023

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