ISSN:
1420-9071
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The behaviour ofBlattella germanica in the maze is subject to great variations according to different wavelengths, of the same energy. No learning in red, green, and yellow; significant learning in blue. From the red to the blue, augmentation of errors may be observed; learning varies as the sum of the errors. White light gives a particular phenomenon: with the same energy as for blue light, the sum of errors is less, and also the run time. Elytra play a role in stimulus reception; the sum of the errors is greater after their varnishing. Ocellae play the most prominent role; learning is abolished after their varnishing. They seem to apprehend light intensity. The role of general excitement and particular stimuli is discussed; if the general excitement is low (varnishing of the elytra) and stimuli are high, there are many errors, and the run time is very long; however, learning may be observed; when the stimuli are at a low level (varnishing of the ocellæ) and general excitement is normal, there are few errors, but no learning.Blattella do not enter their feeding box after varnishing of the eyes and ocellæ; their motivation, consequently, is greatly disturbed, and perhaps learning is impossible without this motivation. Learning establishes an equilibrium between general excitement level and stimuli to the ocellæ.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02156161
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