The Effect of Alarm Pheromone in Honey Bees (Incentive Contrast)
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
4-2025
Abstract
Humans, rats, and honey bees reject a reward if it was preceded by exposure to a larger reward; a phenomenon known as incentive contrast. Previous research shows that honey bees exposed to bee alarm pheromone show reduced appetitive learning as measured by proboscis extension responses (PER). This study explores the effects of alarm pheromone on incentive contrast. Bees were exposed to a main component of the alarm pheromone: ispopentyl acetate (IPA). During acquisition, bees were exposed to a pure odor with a 50% sucrose reward. During extinction the reward was downshifted to 0% sucrose. Before each training phase, bees were pre-exposed to either IPA or sham odor (mineral oil), resulting in four conditions: IPA/Oil, Oil/Oil, Oil/IPA, and IPA/IPA. These first two conditions replicate a previous study looking at IPA effects on honey bee learning in acquisition, and the latter conditions examine the effects of IPA on reward downshifts.
Recommended Citation
Guadarrama, Citlalli, "The Effect of Alarm Pheromone in Honey Bees (Incentive Contrast)" (2025). Student Research Symposium 2025. 3.
https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/srs_2025/3
Comments
1:00-2:00 p.m.
BLH 366
Studies in Psychology & Criminology
Thiya Mukherjee, Moderator