Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
09:09
Radio Frequency Identification and Motion-sensitive Video Efficiently Automate Recording of Unrewarded Choice Behavior by Bumblebees
Published on: November 15, 2014
State-dependent learned valuation drives choice in an invertebrate
Lorena Pompilio1, Alex Kacelnik, Spencer T Behmer
1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 18, 2006
Summary
State-dependent valuation, a bias towards costly items, is found in locusts, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Neuroethology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Vertebrates exhibit state-dependent valuation, preferring costly items associated with poor condition.
- The evolutionary origins of this phenomenon (convergence vs. ancestral trait) remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate state-dependent valuation in invertebrates.
- To determine if this behavior is an evolutionarily conserved trait or an adaptive solution.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral experiments with the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria).
- Analysis of choice preferences under varying physiological states.
Main Results:
- Desert locusts demonstrate state-dependent valuation, mirroring vertebrate behavior.
- This finding extends the known phylogenetic range of state-dependent valuation.
Conclusions:
- State-dependent valuation is not limited to vertebrates.
- The presence in locusts suggests this mechanism is an ecologically rational solution to common choice problems, likely arising from convergent evolution.
Related Concept Videos
01:47Osmoregulation in Insects
Malpighian tubules are specialized structures found in the digestive systems of many arthropods, including most insects, that handle excretion and osmoregulation. The tubules are typically arranged in pairs and have a convoluted structure that increases their surface area.
01:09Decision Making: P-value Method
The process of hypothesis testing based on the P-value method includes calculating the P- value using the sample data and interpreting it.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...
01:14Decision Making: Traditional Method
The process of hypothesis testing based on the traditional method includes calculating the critical value, testing the value of the test statistic using the sample data, and interpreting these values.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
01:18Introduction to Learning
Learning is the process of acquiring knowledge or skills through practice or experience, leading to long-lasting behavioral changes. This acquisition occurs through interaction with the environment and requires practice or experience. For instance, mastering a skill such as surfing requires considerable practice and experience, highlighting the essential role of repeated interactions with the environment in learning.
In contrast to learned behaviors, unlearned behaviors such as crying, sexual...
In contrast to learned behaviors, unlearned behaviors such as crying, sexual...
01:05Instinctive Drift
Instinctive drift refers to the tendency of animals to revert to their innate behaviors despite repeated reinforcement. Breland and Breland demonstrated this concept in an experiment with a raccoon. The raccoon was trained to pick up two coins and place them in a container in exchange for food. Initially, the raccoon learned to associate the coins with food, making them a conditioned stimulus or a substitute for food. However, over time, the raccoon became less willing to put the coins into the...
01:20Decision Making
Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...