Memory and Learning Ability
As well as communicating food whereabouts to other members of the hive, it is said that bees can remember both paths to food sources and human faces (Pockley 2001; Phillips 2005; Dyer et al. 2005). Pockley (2001) also states that bees have both a short-term and long-term memory, with the bees comparing new stimuli to previous experiences stored in the short-term memory. Bees proceed to ‘learn’ a rule and then place this newly learnt information in the long-term memory (Pockley 2001).
Conversely, Srinivasan (2010) states that it is unlikely for bees to possess a large memory, and instead suggest that bees have the ability to extract the key elements of shapes and patterns, without having to memorize precise details. Giurfa et al. (2001) expand on this notion, also stating that research suggest foraging bees are able to differentiate an object they have seen before on a route from one they haven’t, consequently allowing them to trigger memories of the next landmark in a journey.
Conversely, Srinivasan (2010) states that it is unlikely for bees to possess a large memory, and instead suggest that bees have the ability to extract the key elements of shapes and patterns, without having to memorize precise details. Giurfa et al. (2001) expand on this notion, also stating that research suggest foraging bees are able to differentiate an object they have seen before on a route from one they haven’t, consequently allowing them to trigger memories of the next landmark in a journey.