Symbolic Cues or Rules
Bees are capable of determining beneficial navigation routes depending on the
symbolic cues that arise (Srinivasan 2010; Chittka & Jensen 2011). These cues
are stored in long term memory and can be applied as rules to future situations
(Chittka& Jensen 2011).
For example, in a Y maze where one arm contains a food source and the other
arm contains an aversive stimulus, placing a target (a symbol which varied in
colour and shape from trial to trial) above or below a referent (a constant symbol) indicates which arm contains the reward (Fig. 5). Bees can quickly learn such a task, and
then apply the general rule (target position relative to the referent = reward) when presented with targets that vary in shape and colour (Chittka& Jensen 2011).
symbolic cues that arise (Srinivasan 2010; Chittka & Jensen 2011). These cues
are stored in long term memory and can be applied as rules to future situations
(Chittka& Jensen 2011).
For example, in a Y maze where one arm contains a food source and the other
arm contains an aversive stimulus, placing a target (a symbol which varied in
colour and shape from trial to trial) above or below a referent (a constant symbol) indicates which arm contains the reward (Fig. 5). Bees can quickly learn such a task, and
then apply the general rule (target position relative to the referent = reward) when presented with targets that vary in shape and colour (Chittka& Jensen 2011).