Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
04:47
Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
Published on: September 18, 2018
7.1K
Hornets possess long-lasting olfactory memories
Zhiwen Gong1,2, Ken Tan3,2, James C Nieh4
1CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|May 30, 2019
Summary
Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) demonstrate olfactory learning and long-term memory across all castes. This cognitive ability, crucial for social insects, persists for at least 30 days in queens and drones.
Area of Science:
- Animal Cognition
- Insect Behavior
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Cognitive abilities like learning and memory are vital adaptations for animals, particularly social insects, aiding survival and reproductive success.
- Understanding how learning and memory function across different castes and their long-term persistence is key to unraveling cognitive evolution in social species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate olfactory learning and long-term memory in all three castes of the Asian hornet, Vespa velutina.
- To determine the duration of olfactory memory retention in different hornet castes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the first proboscis extension reflex assay specifically developed for hornets and wasps.
- Exposed hornets to olfactory cues associated with food rewards to assess learning and memory recall.
- Monitored memory retention over time in gynes (virgin queens) and drones.
Main Results:
- All three castes of Vespa velutina exhibited olfactory learning and memory.
- Long-term olfactory memory was observed, with significant retention up to 30 days in gynes and drones.
- Drones demonstrated equal proficiency in learning and remembering simple odorants and gyne sex pheromones.
Conclusions:
- Vespa velutina possesses remarkable cognitive abilities, including long-term olfactory memory across all castes.
- The findings highlight the potential significance of persistent memory in the social structure and ecological success of this insect species.
- This study contributes to a broader understanding of cognitive evolution and memory mechanisms in social insects.
Related Concept Videos
01:23System of Memory
7.3K
Memory is categorized into three major systems: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM). These systems differ in their capacity and the duration for which they can hold information. Sensory memory captures raw sensory input from the environment, holding it for just a few seconds or less. For example, on hearing a brief, loud sound, like a car horn honking, the sound seems to linger in the mind for a moment even after it stops. This is an instance of sensory memory...
7.3K
01:24Working Memory
841
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
841
01:18Long-Term Memory
664
Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
664
01:20Traumatic Memory
565
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
565
01:16Repressed Memory
508
Repressed memories are a psychological phenomenon where memories of traumatic events are unconsciously blocked from a person's awareness. This process occurs as a defense mechanism, protecting the mind from the emotional impact of distressing or painful experiences. For example, a person who has experienced childhood trauma may grow up with no conscious recollection of the event. In such cases, the memories are thought to be buried deep within the subconscious, inaccessible to the conscious...
508
01:23Immunological Memory
15.1K
Immunological memory, a pivotal pillar of the adaptive immune system, is responsible for the body's ability to remember and respond more swiftly and effectively to previously encountered pathogens. This remarkable feature is what makes vaccines so effective in preventing diseases.
What is Immunological Memory?
Immunological memory is an integral function of the immune system that allows it to recognize and react more rapidly and effectively to pathogens previously encountered. This feature...
What is Immunological Memory?
Immunological memory is an integral function of the immune system that allows it to recognize and react more rapidly and effectively to pathogens previously encountered. This feature...
15.1K