How cognitive biases select for imperfect mimicry: a study of asymmetry in learning with bumblebees.

ABSTRACT: Imperfect mimicry presents a paradox of incomplete adaptation - intuitively, closer resemblance should improve performance. Receiver psychology can often explain why mimetic signals do not always evolve to match those of their models. Here, we explored the influence of a pervasive and powerful cognitive bias where associative learning depends upon an asymmetric interaction between the cue (stimulus) and consequence (reinforcer), such as in rats, which will associate light and tone with shock, and taste with nausea, but not the converse. Can such biases alter selection for mimicry? We designed an artificial mimicry system where bees foraged on artificial flowers, so that colours could be switched between rewarding or aversive. We found that when the colour blue was paired with a sucrose rew

SUBMITTER: Kikuchi DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6706088 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature