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

蜜蜂（apis mellifera）在其高效觅食飞行过程中，表现出具有识别和记忆食物来源的行为控制技巧。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。本研究提出了一种新的视觉刺激与奖励（食物）或惩罚（热休克）相结合的条件反射方法。在系留飞行过程中，条件反射导致的行为改变表现为转矩信号的相位变化和视运动反应的选择性浏览。通过行为实验和数学分析得到如下结果：●使用回避刺激（热休克）作为非条件刺激的条件反射效应比奖励条件反射溶解得更快。当CRT上的目标图形上下移动时，将其识别为原始位置上的不同图形。●声音刺激，如摇摆舞声，引起声源的定向，但这取决于频率特性。●在自由飞行条件下，蜜蜂被习得的视觉目标作为食物来源的标记，在束缚飞行条件下，蜜蜂倾向于向同一人物显示方向。与单纯组比较，差异无统计学意义。提出了基于y型迷宫飞行轨迹的视觉定向飞行控制模型。●观察视叶及下降区多种神经反应。然而，由于没有足够的记录数量，它还没有实现到数学模型中。基于这些结果，我们将开始各种行为和生理实验作为下一个资助研究。这些结果将在蜜蜂飞行控制的数学模型上得到巩固。

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.