jeb228601.full.pdf (2.33 MB)
A motion compensation treadmill for untethered wood ants (Formica rufa): evidence for transfer of orientation memories from free-walking training
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 22:12 authored by Roman Goulard, Cornelia BuehlmannCornelia Buehlmann, Jeremy NivenJeremy Niven, Paul GrahamPaul Graham, Barbara WebbThe natural scale of insect navigation during foraging makes it challenging to study under controlled conditions. Virtual reality and trackball setups have offered experimental control over visual environments while studying tethered insects, but potential limitations and confounds introduced by tethering motivates the development of alternative untethered solutions. In this paper, we validate the use of a motion compensator (or ‘treadmill’) to study visually driven behaviour of freely moving wood ants (Formica rufa). We show how this setup allows naturalistic walking behaviour and preserves foraging motivation over long time frames. Furthermore, we show that ants are able to transfer associative and navigational memories from classical maze and arena contexts to our treadmill. Thus, we demonstrate the possibility to study navigational behaviour over ecologically relevant durations (and virtual distances) in precisely controlled environments, bridging the gap between natural and highly controlled laboratory experiments.
Funding
Visual navigation in ants: from visual ecology to brain; G2263; BBSRC-BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL; BB/R005036/1
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
The Journal of Experimental BiologyISSN
0022-0949Publisher
The Company of Biologists Ltd.External DOI
Issue
24Volume
223Page range
1-12Department affiliated with
- Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-11-17First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-01-15First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-11-17Usage metrics
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