{"id":71,"date":"2025-11-19T15:04:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T15:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/press.wpunj.edu\/animalphysiologylabmanual\/chapter\/__unknown__-3\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T18:00:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T18:00:47","slug":"chemo-sensoryintegration","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/press.wpunj.edu\/animalphysiologylabmanual\/chapter\/chemo-sensoryintegration\/","title":{"raw":"Lab 4: Chemo-sensory Integration","rendered":"Lab 4: Chemo-sensory Integration"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n

Sensory physiology<\/strong> is\u00a0the branch of neuroscience that studies how our bodies detect, process, and interpret sensory information from the environment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Key sensory physiology concepts:<\/h3>\r\n

Sensory Receptors<\/strong>: Specialized cells or tissues that detect specific stimuli, such as light, sound, chemicals, or pressure.<\/p>\r\n

Transduction<\/strong>: The process by which sensory receptors convert stimuli into electrical signals that can be transmitted to the nervous system.<\/p>\r\n

Sensory Pathways<\/strong>: The neural circuits that carry sensory information from receptors to the brain.<\/p>\r\n

Perception<\/strong>: The conscious experience resulting from the interpretation of sensory signals in the brain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Examples of Sensory Physiology:<\/h3>\r\n

Vision:<\/strong> How the eye detects light and sends information to the brain to create images.<\/p>\r\n

Hearing<\/strong>: How the ear converts sound waves into electrical signals that are interpreted as sound.<\/p>\r\n

Smell:<\/strong> How the nose detects odor molecules and sends signals to the brain for identification.<\/p>\r\n

Taste<\/strong>: How the tongue detects chemicals in food and sends information to the brain for flavor perception.<\/p>\r\n

Touch:<\/strong> How the skin detects pressure, temperature, and pain and transmits these signals to the brain.<\/p>\r\n

\"image\"<\/p>\r\n

Sensory physiology plays a crucial role in understanding how we interact with our environment and perceive the world around us. It is also essential for diagnosing and treating sensory disorders, such as vision loss, hearing impairment, and loss of smell or taste. Additionally, sensory physiology has implications for fields like robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-computer interaction.<\/p>\r\n

Chemo-sensory processes specifically involve taste and smell. In insects, olfaction enables the organism to recognize volatile cues that facilitate the detection of food, predators, and mates. In contrast, the sense of taste commonly allows the discrimination of soluble stimulants that elicit feeding behaviors and can also initiate innate sexual and reproductive responses.\u00a0The sensitivity to these stimuli in honey bees exceeds even a dog\u2019s smelling ability, which is far greater than humans. Therefore, the honey bee is an ideal model organism for testing the preferences of food rewards and possibly addiction.<\/p>\r\n

Recent research has shown that honey bees may become addicted to alcohol, which is naturally produced from the fermentation of nectar as it sits in flowers waiting to be consumed. To demonstrate whether honey bees can be used as a model organism for studying alcohol addiction, three main questions arise: 1) Can alcohol have a hedonic value that is sought after by bees?, 2) Is the acute effect of alcohol on bees similar to that on mammals?, and 3) Do chronic doses of alcohol induce similar effects as in mammals, i.e. signs of addiction?<\/p>\r\n

To answer questions 1 and 2, you will conduct what is known as a Proboscis Extension Response (PER) assay, which is a powerful behavioral standardized assay for honey bees to determine their preference or appetite for food. This is measured by touching a droplet of food stimulus (usually sucrose solution) to the harnessed honey bee\u2019s antenna and then determining whether or not the bee sticks out its proboscis in an attempt to feed on that solution, without letting the honey bee feed on the solution. A series of solutions can be tested in ascending order to determine their preference.<\/p>\r\n

Half of the class will be testing honey bees using the PER assay that were previously fed 4 \u03bcL of 50% sucrose solution without any alcohol (negative control). The other half of the class will be testing honey bees that were fed 4 uL of 50% sucrose solution with the addition of 2.5% ethanol, their preferred level of alcohol in the food that they consume.<\/p>\r\n

To prevent any potential observation bias the feeding treatment will be blind to the observer and therefore, you will only know the group letter you are working with, either A or B.<\/p>\r\n

Materials needed per group (4 groups total):<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

20 \u03bcL micropipette<\/p>\r\n

20 uL micropipette tips<\/p>\r\n

1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes in a rack with 1 mL of the following solutions 30% sucrose solution with 0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20% and 50% ethanol (molecular grade), the water should be distilled water. An additional 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube with 1 mL of distilled water.<\/p>\r\n\"\"\r\n

Supplies for collecting forager bees<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

4 Peg trays<\/p>\r\n

40 cut plastic drinking straws<\/p>\r\n

40 pieces of duct tape 1 mm in width, cut on a glass cutting board using a razor blade<\/p>\r\n

40 forager honey bees<\/p>\r\n

1 Bucket of crushed ice<\/p>\r\n

40 glass vials (20 mL)<\/p>\r\n

50% sucrose solution (1 mL), 50% sucrose solution w\/ 2.5% ethanol (molecular grade) (1mL)<\/p>\r\n

20 uL micropipette, 20 uL micropipette tips<\/p>\r\n

Safety note: you will be working with live honey bees that can sting, if you already know you are deathly allergic to bee stings then let the instructor know.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

If one escapes from the harness then just let it fly towards the window or the lights above, the instructor will catch it with a glass vial.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Procedure:<\/h3>\r\n

Step 1<\/strong>: take note of the treatment group (either A or B) of honey bees you are working on your lab report datasheet, which should be labeled on the peg tray.<\/p>\r\n

Step 2<\/strong>: Start with the distilled water and touch the honey bee\u2019s antennae with a droplet of liquid using the 20 \u03bcL micropipette (see below). Do this for every bee on the peg tray in order and record whether the proboscis is out for each bee. Then repeat this procedure in ascending order of alcohol concentration (0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%) in 30% sucrose solution, but touch the bee\u2019s antennae with water in between each round using the 20 \u03bcL micropipette. Make sure you do not allow the bee to feed on the sucrose solution!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n

Have another student in the group be an observer, while the other will be the data recorder to record whether or not the honey bee sticks out its proboscis. Rotate the jobs each round per concentration of alcohol.<\/p>\r\n

\"image\"<\/p>\r\n

Harness honey bees in cut plastic drinking straws that are ready for PER testing.<\/p>\r\n

\"image\"<\/p>\r\n

An example of the PER assay, where the antennae of the honey bee are touched with a solution, and the proboscis sticks out in an attempt to feed on this solution.<\/p>\r\n

Step 3<\/strong>: compile your data and enter it into the class excel spreadsheet at the front of the room.<\/p>\r\n

Step 4<\/strong>: make a line graph using excel of the class data comparing the two honey bee treatment groups (control versus alcohol treated). Put this in your lab report and make sure your axes are labeled.<\/p>\r\n

Step 5<\/strong>: sum up the number of proboscis responses just for the treatments with sucrose solution and alcohol (not the water only treatments) across all of the concentrations for each group of honey bees. Conduct a chi-square goodness of fit test using a calculator online. Obtain your test statistic and p-value and write a results statement underneath your graph in your lab report and make a figure caption for your graph.<\/p>\r\n

Step 6:<\/strong> write a concluding paragraph underneath your figure legend in your lab report based on the results obtained that relate your results to your initial hypothesis and study aim.<\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

\n

Sensory physiology<\/strong> is\u00a0the branch of neuroscience that studies how our bodies detect, process, and interpret sensory information from the environment.<\/p>\n

Key sensory physiology concepts:<\/h3>\n

Sensory Receptors<\/strong>: Specialized cells or tissues that detect specific stimuli, such as light, sound, chemicals, or pressure.<\/p>\n

Transduction<\/strong>: The process by which sensory receptors convert stimuli into electrical signals that can be transmitted to the nervous system.<\/p>\n

Sensory Pathways<\/strong>: The neural circuits that carry sensory information from receptors to the brain.<\/p>\n

Perception<\/strong>: The conscious experience resulting from the interpretation of sensory signals in the brain.<\/p>\n

Examples of Sensory Physiology:<\/h3>\n

Vision:<\/strong> How the eye detects light and sends information to the brain to create images.<\/p>\n

Hearing<\/strong>: How the ear converts sound waves into electrical signals that are interpreted as sound.<\/p>\n

Smell:<\/strong> How the nose detects odor molecules and sends signals to the brain for identification.<\/p>\n

Taste<\/strong>: How the tongue detects chemicals in food and sends information to the brain for flavor perception.<\/p>\n

Touch:<\/strong> How the skin detects pressure, temperature, and pain and transmits these signals to the brain.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

Sensory physiology plays a crucial role in understanding how we interact with our environment and perceive the world around us. It is also essential for diagnosing and treating sensory disorders, such as vision loss, hearing impairment, and loss of smell or taste. Additionally, sensory physiology has implications for fields like robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-computer interaction.<\/p>\n

Chemo-sensory processes specifically involve taste and smell. In insects, olfaction enables the organism to recognize volatile cues that facilitate the detection of food, predators, and mates. In contrast, the sense of taste commonly allows the discrimination of soluble stimulants that elicit feeding behaviors and can also initiate innate sexual and reproductive responses.\u00a0The sensitivity to these stimuli in honey bees exceeds even a dog\u2019s smelling ability, which is far greater than humans. Therefore, the honey bee is an ideal model organism for testing the preferences of food rewards and possibly addiction.<\/p>\n

Recent research has shown that honey bees may become addicted to alcohol, which is naturally produced from the fermentation of nectar as it sits in flowers waiting to be consumed. To demonstrate whether honey bees can be used as a model organism for studying alcohol addiction, three main questions arise: 1) Can alcohol have a hedonic value that is sought after by bees?, 2) Is the acute effect of alcohol on bees similar to that on mammals?, and 3) Do chronic doses of alcohol induce similar effects as in mammals, i.e. signs of addiction?<\/p>\n

To answer questions 1 and 2, you will conduct what is known as a Proboscis Extension Response (PER) assay, which is a powerful behavioral standardized assay for honey bees to determine their preference or appetite for food. This is measured by touching a droplet of food stimulus (usually sucrose solution) to the harnessed honey bee\u2019s antenna and then determining whether or not the bee sticks out its proboscis in an attempt to feed on that solution, without letting the honey bee feed on the solution. A series of solutions can be tested in ascending order to determine their preference.<\/p>\n

Half of the class will be testing honey bees using the PER assay that were previously fed 4 \u03bcL of 50% sucrose solution without any alcohol (negative control). The other half of the class will be testing honey bees that were fed 4 uL of 50% sucrose solution with the addition of 2.5% ethanol, their preferred level of alcohol in the food that they consume.<\/p>\n

To prevent any potential observation bias the feeding treatment will be blind to the observer and therefore, you will only know the group letter you are working with, either A or B.<\/p>\n

Materials needed per group (4 groups total):<\/strong><\/p>\n

20 \u03bcL micropipette<\/p>\n

20 uL micropipette tips<\/p>\n

1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes in a rack with 1 mL of the following solutions 30% sucrose solution with 0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20% and 50% ethanol (molecular grade), the water should be distilled water. An additional 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube with 1 mL of distilled water.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Supplies for collecting forager bees<\/strong><\/p>\n

4 Peg trays<\/p>\n

40 cut plastic drinking straws<\/p>\n

40 pieces of duct tape 1 mm in width, cut on a glass cutting board using a razor blade<\/p>\n

40 forager honey bees<\/p>\n

1 Bucket of crushed ice<\/p>\n

40 glass vials (20 mL)<\/p>\n

50% sucrose solution (1 mL), 50% sucrose solution w\/ 2.5% ethanol (molecular grade) (1mL)<\/p>\n

20 uL micropipette, 20 uL micropipette tips<\/p>\n

Safety note: you will be working with live honey bees that can sting, if you already know you are deathly allergic to bee stings then let the instructor know.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If one escapes from the harness then just let it fly towards the window or the lights above, the instructor will catch it with a glass vial.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Procedure:<\/h3>\n

Step 1<\/strong>: take note of the treatment group (either A or B) of honey bees you are working on your lab report datasheet, which should be labeled on the peg tray.<\/p>\n

Step 2<\/strong>: Start with the distilled water and touch the honey bee\u2019s antennae with a droplet of liquid using the 20 \u03bcL micropipette (see below). Do this for every bee on the peg tray in order and record whether the proboscis is out for each bee. Then repeat this procedure in ascending order of alcohol concentration (0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%) in 30% sucrose solution, but touch the bee\u2019s antennae with water in between each round using the 20 \u03bcL micropipette. Make sure you do not allow the bee to feed on the sucrose solution!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Have another student in the group be an observer, while the other will be the data recorder to record whether or not the honey bee sticks out its proboscis. Rotate the jobs each round per concentration of alcohol.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

Harness honey bees in cut plastic drinking straws that are ready for PER testing.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

An example of the PER assay, where the antennae of the honey bee are touched with a solution, and the proboscis sticks out in an attempt to feed on this solution.<\/p>\n

Step 3<\/strong>: compile your data and enter it into the class excel spreadsheet at the front of the room.<\/p>\n

Step 4<\/strong>: make a line graph using excel of the class data comparing the two honey bee treatment groups (control versus alcohol treated). Put this in your lab report and make sure your axes are labeled.<\/p>\n

Step 5<\/strong>: sum up the number of proboscis responses just for the treatments with sucrose solution and alcohol (not the water only treatments) across all of the concentrations for each group of honey bees. Conduct a chi-square goodness of fit test using a calculator online. Obtain your test statistic and p-value and write a results statement underneath your graph in your lab report and make a figure caption for your graph.<\/p>\n

Step 6:<\/strong> write a concluding paragraph underneath your figure legend in your lab report based on the results obtained that relate your results to your initial hypothesis and study aim.<\/p>\n

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