Behavioral strategies in ants in changing conditions of food motivation.

Abstract

Learning in ants was studied in a multiple choice symmetrical maze at different levels of social food motivation. Myrmica rubra scout ants were found to be able to change their behavioral strategy rapidly when families were suddenly changed from a low level of motivation to a high level and vice versa. In the "sated" state, there was clearly evident investigative activity, which led to high levels of variability and instability in the maze habit. In the "starved" state, there was a rapid minimization of movement trajectories, and most ants used only one dominant movement scheme. The initial level of food motivation determined how ants learned in the maze and their ability to change their behavioral strategy.