Factors influencing aversive learning in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis

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• 作者：J. L. Liu ; H. L. Chen ; X. Y. Chen ; R. K. Cui…
• 关键词：Bactrocera dorsalis ; Aversive learning ; Olfactory behavior ; Methyl eugenol ; Stimulus intensity
• 刊名：Journal of Comparative Physiology A
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：January 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：203
• 期：1
• 页码：57-65
• 全文大小：
• 刊物主题：Animal Physiology; Neurosciences; Zoology;
• 出版者：Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• ISSN：1432-1351
• 卷排序：203

文摘

Parameters such as the intensity of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli, the inter-trial interval, and starvation time can influence learning. In this study, the parameters that govern aversive learning in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, a serious pest of fruits and vegetables, were examined. Male flies were trained to associate the attractive odorant methyl eugenol, a male lure, with a food punishment, sodium chloride solution, and the conditioned suppression of the proboscis-extension response was investigated. We found that high methyl eugenol concentrations support a stronger association. With increasing concentrations of sodium chloride solution, a steady decrease of proboscis-extension response during six training trials was observed. A high level of learning was achieved with an inter-trial interval of 1–10 min. However, extending the inter-trial interval to 15 min led to reduced learning. No effect of physiological status (starvation time) on learning performance was detected, nor was any non-associative learning effect induced by the repeat presentation of odor or punishment alone. The memory formed after six training trials could be retained for at least 3 h. Our results indicate that aversive learning by oriental fruit flies can be affected by odor, punishment concentration and inter-trial interval.