Numerical cognition in bees and other insects
The ability to perceive the number of objects has been known to exist in vertebrates for a few decades, but recent behavioral investigations have demonstrated that several invertebrate species can also be placed on the continuum of numerical abilities shared with birds, mammals and reptiles. In this...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2013-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00162/full |
| _version_ | 1828464773588582400 |
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| author | Mario ePahl Aung eSi Shaowu eZhang |
| author_facet | Mario ePahl Aung eSi Shaowu eZhang |
| author_sort | Mario ePahl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ability to perceive the number of objects has been known to exist in vertebrates for a few decades, but recent behavioral investigations have demonstrated that several invertebrate species can also be placed on the continuum of numerical abilities shared with birds, mammals and reptiles. In this review article, we present the main experimental studies that have examined the ability of insects to use numerical information. These studies have made use of a wide range of methodologies, and for this reason it is striking that a common finding is the inability of the tested animals to discriminate numerical quantities greater than four. Furthermore, the finding that bees can not only transfer learnt numerical discrimination to novel objects, but also to novel numerosities, is strongly suggestive of a true, albeit limited, ability to count. Later in the review, we evaluate the available evidence to narrow down the possible mechanisms that the animals might be using to solve the number-based experimental tasks presented to them. We conclude by suggesting avenues of further research that take into account variables such as the animals’ age and experience, as well as complementary cognitive systems such as attention and the time sense. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:20:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3346982bc039457299b0d65476476767 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:20:23Z |
| publishDate | 2013-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3346982bc039457299b0d654764767672022-12-22T01:22:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782013-04-01410.3389/fpsyg.2013.0016233732Numerical cognition in bees and other insectsMario ePahl0Aung eSi1Shaowu eZhang2Julius-Maximilians-Universitaet, WuerzburgCollege of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National UniversityThe Australian National UniversityThe ability to perceive the number of objects has been known to exist in vertebrates for a few decades, but recent behavioral investigations have demonstrated that several invertebrate species can also be placed on the continuum of numerical abilities shared with birds, mammals and reptiles. In this review article, we present the main experimental studies that have examined the ability of insects to use numerical information. These studies have made use of a wide range of methodologies, and for this reason it is striking that a common finding is the inability of the tested animals to discriminate numerical quantities greater than four. Furthermore, the finding that bees can not only transfer learnt numerical discrimination to novel objects, but also to novel numerosities, is strongly suggestive of a true, albeit limited, ability to count. Later in the review, we evaluate the available evidence to narrow down the possible mechanisms that the animals might be using to solve the number-based experimental tasks presented to them. We conclude by suggesting avenues of further research that take into account variables such as the animals’ age and experience, as well as complementary cognitive systems such as attention and the time sense.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00162/fullBeesInsectsanimal cognitionlearning and memoryNumerical cognitionCounting |
| spellingShingle | Mario ePahl Aung eSi Shaowu eZhang Numerical cognition in bees and other insects Frontiers in Psychology Bees Insects animal cognition learning and memory Numerical cognition Counting |
| title | Numerical cognition in bees and other insects |
| title_full | Numerical cognition in bees and other insects |
| title_fullStr | Numerical cognition in bees and other insects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical cognition in bees and other insects |
| title_short | Numerical cognition in bees and other insects |
| title_sort | numerical cognition in bees and other insects |
| topic | Bees Insects animal cognition learning and memory Numerical cognition Counting |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00162/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marioepahl numericalcognitioninbeesandotherinsects AT aungesi numericalcognitioninbeesandotherinsects AT shaowuezhang numericalcognitioninbeesandotherinsects |