Participants
Arisha Tahir
Top-down attention in primates increases the ability to detect targets. Similar processes have not been studied in insects. However, learning about rewarding targets should similarly enhance target detection in insects. In this project, we will investigate this by presenting bumblebees artificial virtual flowers of varying rewards. We will then vary the contrast levels of these flowers against the background and see if flowers with higher rewards are easier for the bees to detect. The results will provide new information on bumblebee foraging as well as shed a light on the evolution of fundamental neural processes across different species. We expect to see that the bumblebees would more easily recognise low contrast stimuli when given a higher reward.
Funded by: Newcastle University Research Scholarship
Project Supervisor: Dr Vivek Nityananda