Day 31, July 7, 2011 (Some Data/Specific Example)

Thanks to Dr. Abramson, Marisol and Maria we are getting some nice results. Expected in some ways. We have worked out the bugs, we are efficient at sampling, doing the assay and cleaning up. We have a routine and specific jobs. If you scroll down you will see 2 sections of a data sheet with data collected by me today. I will explain in detail below. I think it is so amazing.

These bees were collected yesterday. We feed them a couple of hours after we catch them and leave them overnight for morning experiments.


In this experiment, which is called a Discrimination experiment, we are essentially checking to see if the scent of Lavender which in this experiment was the condition stimulus that was accompanied by a sugar reward (CS+) can be distinguished from the cinnamon odor which after being presented was not matched with sugar. In more detail a syringe with the scent of Lavender is pressed in in front of the bee for about 2 sec, immediately following the bee's antenna is touched with a swap of sugar water. This sugar causes the bee to extend its proboscis and then I allow the bee to put her probosics on the sugar for a short taste (this is the reward).
If the bee has learned it will extend its probosics out when the lavender is presented, if this occurs the bee has been conditioned. In the chart the CS- is the scent of cinnamon being administered from the syringe but it is not followed by a sugar reward. In the chart a zero means that after the odor the animal did not extend its probosics. The one in the upper right hand corner for the CS+ means that the bee extended its proboscis for the sugar water.


CS+ = lavender (coupled with the sugar reward)
CS- = cinnamon (no sugar reward)
Each trial consists of the same 15 bees, 20 trials

As can be clearly seen the bee is responding to the odor of lavender almost for each bee, extending its probosics. The cinnamon for the most part does not cause the probosics to be
extended. The bee definitely is able to distinguish between the 2 odors.

Summary Data Sheet

This was a stark example of discrimination learning in honey bees. At the end of the experiment
all bees were extending their proboscis in response to only the smell of lavender and not to cinnamon.

Gosh I hope this all makes some sense.
Rich