Decision-making plays a fundamental role in the lives of all animals, including humans. To make adaptive decisions, the brain must first weigh the costs and benefits associated with available decision options and then select the option that maximizes Darwinian fitness. Here, we use a novel and ecologically-relevant task switching paradigm to investigate how limitations on cognitive flexibility affect the foraging decisions of bumblebees. Our results will yield important insights into the neural basis of adaptive behavior and the evolution of floral complexity.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Leigher, Kristen Elizabeth
• Rinaldo, Breanna Jean

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042612-104329

Advisor

• Gegear, Robert J.

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright