University of Sussex
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

The use of path integration to guide route learning in ants.

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 22:26 authored by B Schatz, S Chameron, G Beugnon, T S Collett
Cataglyphid ants travelling between their nest and feeding site follow familiar routes along which they are guided by views of the surrounding landscape. On bare terrain, with no landmarks available, ants can still navigate using path integration. They continually monitor their net distance and direction from the nest, so that they can return home from any point using their computed 'home vector'. Here we ask whether path integration also provides signals to reinforce the learning of visual landmarks. A fall in the value of the home vector indicates when a homing ant moves in roughly the correct direction, and that it is appropriate to store those views that can guide subsequent trips to the nest. We tested this hypothesis by training the ant Cataglyphis cursor to negotiate a variety of mazes that led from a feeding site back to the nest. Efficient passage of each maze required an ant to discriminate between different pairs of shapes. We show that if the value of the home vector drops while the ant approaches and passes a shape, the shape's appearance is learnt, but if the vector grows, or is absent, no visual learning occurs. Path integration may both help ants navigate through an unfamiliar landscape, and assist them to become familiar with it.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Nature

ISSN

00280836

Publisher

Nature

Issue

6738

Volume

399

Page range

769-772

ISBN

0028-0836

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC