[Plasticity of the behavior of Myrmica rubra ants during learning in a multi-alternative symmetric labyrinth]

The ability was studied of Myrmica rubra ants to change the habit of passing through a multialternative symmetric labyrinth at motivation of the care for posterity. In exams the location of reinforcement was changed: in the first exam the progeny was carried from both aim places to those symmetric to them relatively to labyrinth cross axis; in the second exam the reinforcement was left on one aim place non-preferred during learning. The first exam was passed by 62.5% of ants, the second--by 87.5%. In the first exam such parameters were worse as the first correct decision, the mean number of movements in the cycle, the total number of correct cycles. At elaboration of new motor habits and increase and inversion were observed of the initial spatial-motor asymmetry. Individual variations in ants behaviour increased. The ants who failed to solve the task, showed pronounced signs of preneurotic state. The obtained results testify to a high plasticity of ants behaviour and their ability to modify their activity according to changes of experimental situation.