Neural and behavioral function of associative learning in honeybee by using visual stimuli

蜜蜂（apis mellifera）在高效觅食飞行过程中表现出熟练的行为控制能力，能够识别和记忆食物来源。对其机制的分析有助于理解大脑中感觉信息处理和行为控制的原理。在这项研究中，提出了一种通过视觉刺激与奖励（食物）或惩罚（热休克）相结合进行调节的新方法。调节引起的行为变化被检测为系留飞行期间扭矩信号的相位变化和视运动响应的选择性浏览。通过行为实验和数学分析得到以下结果。●使用回避刺激（热休克）作为无条件刺激的条件作用比奖赏条件作用消失得更快。●当 CRT 上的目标图形上下移动时，它会被识别为与原始位置不同的图形。●声音刺激，例如摇摆舞声音，会导致对声源的定向，但这取决于频率特性。●蜜蜂，在自由飞行中学习视觉目标作为食物源的标记条件下，在系留飞行下往往会显示同一人物的方向。但与幼稚组在统计学上没有显着差异。 ●基于Y迷宫中的飞行轨迹提出了视觉定向飞行控制的抽象模型。 ●测量了视叶和下降区的一些神经反应。然而，由于没有足够的记录，它还没有被应用到数学模型中。基于这些结果，我们正在开始各种行为和生理实验，作为下一步的资助研究。这些结果将被整合到蜜蜂飞行控制的数学模型中。

Honeybees, apis mellifera, show skillful performances for behavioral control with identification and memory of food sources during their efficient foraging flight. Analysis of their mechanisms is responsible for understanding the principal of sensory information processing and behavioral control in the brain. In this research, it was proposed a new method for conditioning by the visual stimulus paired with reward (food) or punishment (heat shock). Behavioral change by the conditioning was detected as phase variation of torque signal and selective browsing in optomotor responses during the tethered flight. Following results were obtained by the behavioral experiments and mathematical analysis.●Conditioning effect by using avoidance stimuli (heat shock) as an unconditioned stimulus dissolves sooner than reward conditioning.●When a target figure on CRT is moved up or down, it is recognized as a different figure on original position.●Sound stimulus, such as waggle dance sound, causes orientation to the sound source, but it is depend on the frequency characteristics.●Honeybees, which are learned visual target as mark of food source under the free flight condition, tend to be shown orientation to the same figure under tethered flight. However, it could not be seen significant difference from naive group statistically.●Abstract model of visual orientation flight control was presented based on flight trajectory in the Y-maze.●Several neural responses were measured in optic lobe and descending area. However, it has not been implemented into the mathematical model, because there are not enough number of records.Based on these results, we are starting various behavioral and physiological experiments as the next funding research. These results will be consolidated on the mathematical model for honeybee flight control.