Inhibition of pain or response to injury in invertebrates and vertebrates

In certain situations, insects appear to lack a response to noxious stimuli that would cause pain in humans. For example, from the fact that male mantids continue to mate while being eaten by their partner it does not follow that insects do not feel pain; it could be the result of modulation of nociceptive inputs or behavioural outputs. When we try to infer the underlying mental state of an insect from its behaviour, it is important to consider the behavioural effects of the associated physiological and neurobiological mechanisms

Aversive learning in Bombus terrestris Audax (Hymenoptera: Apidae): responses to electric shock in a simulated environment

The study of animal behavior, particularly in insects, is crucial for understanding their biological and evolutionary aspects, with wide-ranging applications in agricultural science, pest management, conservation biology, and neuroscience. Investigating cognitive characteristics, specifically aversive learning, plays a pivotal role in comprehending the success of insects. This adaptive ability enables animals to efficiently cope with the stressful factors in their environment. In this study, we investigated the aversive learning capabilities of Bombus terrestris Audax workers, crucial pollinators across diverse ecosystems. Bees were trained and tested in a flight arena using artificial flowers equipped with electric shocks to simulate conditions wherebees could associate punishment alongside food resources with available cues. The result suggested that bees possess the ability to simultaneously detect potential threats and food resources, indicating a dual aversive-appetitive memory. Furthermore, comparing groups trained with aversive (electric shock) and neutral (distilled water) stimuli showed that danger cues led to faster learning and stronger memory formation. This conditioning setup aimed to simulate real-life foraging situations, exploring bee responses when confronted with potential dangers. These findings provide insights into the survival strategies of insects in challenging environments that negatively impact bee populations

Inhibition of pain or response to injury in invertebrates and vertebrates

In certain situations, insects appear to lack a response to noxious stimuli that would cause pain in humans. For example, from the fact that male mantids continue to mate while being eaten by their partner it does not follow that insects do not feel pain; it could be the result of modulation of nociceptive inputs or behavioural outputs. When we try to infer the underlying mental state of an insect from its behaviour, it is important to consider the behavioural effects of the associated physiological and neurobiological mechanisms