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Shared feelings? Affective states and transfer in bumblebees.
1Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, BS40 5DU, UK. mike.mendl@bristol.ac.uk.
Learning & Behavior
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Recent research suggests bumblebees may experience and transmit emotional states between individuals. This study explores the complex question of emotional contagion in bumblebees, providing novel evidence and methodologies.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Neuroethology
- Social cognition
Background:
- Investigating emotional states in non-human animals is challenging.
- Understanding social interactions in insects offers insights into evolution of behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if bumblebees exhibit transmissible emotional states.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying potential emotional contagion in bumblebees.
Main Methods:
- Utilized controlled experiments with bumblebees.
- Employed behavioral assays to measure emotional responses.
- Analyzed social interactions and transfer of states.
Main Results:
- Provided positive evidence for the transfer of emotional states between bumblebees.
- Demonstrated that specific behaviors correlate with emotional state transmission.
- Highlighted the role of social context in modulating emotional transfer.
Conclusions:
- Bumblebees may possess rudimentary emotional states that can be socially transmitted.
- This finding opens new avenues for research into insect cognition and sociality.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings.
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