learning | Ants, bees & wasps @ VUW

I’m sure that caffeine has many positive effects for me. And it turns out that the little brains of honey bees are influenced as well.

Some plants are effectively drugging the bees with caffeine. It was thought that caffeine was an anti-herbivore response. But it modifies bee brains as well.

In a long-term memory experiment caffeinated bees remembered an odour better than their non-caffeinated sisters. Three times as many bees on caffeine stuck out their tongues for a reward 24 hours after training, compared to their decaffeinated sisters, and twice as many recalling it 72 hours later. Caffeine thus appears to help the bees learn.

Plants are thought likely to benefit because the bees remember where the tasty reward is and come back for more (thus more pollination).

Caffeine modifies how bee brain neurons respond to learning and memory tasks. It appears to result in a stronger reaction of bee-brain cells to sensory input. These stronger reactions in term causes a long-term potentiation, which is a major mechanism resulting in memory formation.

I’m going to keep drinking my coffee…

The full article is available in Science Magazine. A good additional reports is available here at NBC news.

http://www.amdamlab.asu.edu/

Researchers from Arizona State University, observed improvements in brain functions among older bees that turn their attention back to nursing the larvae. When the young bees, responsible for brood care, were removed from the hive, some of the older foragers assumed their work. Bees that returned to caring the larvae showed an increased ability to learn and less signs of aging normally shown by older bees (worn wings, hairless bodies, and more importantly, loss of brain function). The scientists also detected proteomic changes in the brains of the bees that had learned new things. One of these proteins, which is also found in humans is known to protect against dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The results presented highlight the importance of psychological balance in the elderly and indicate that changing how you deal with your surroundings can help our brains stay younger.

This article can be found here. More information on Dr. Amdam’s lab work on bees can be found here.