The cognitive side of communication in social insects

TL;DR

This paper explores how social insects use flexible cognitive abilities in their communication, challenging the idea that it's purely instinctual.

Contribution

The paper reveals cognitive plasticity in social insect communication, previously thought to be entirely genetically encoded.

Findings

Cognitive modulation occurs in communication contexts of social insects.

This challenges the traditional view of communication as purely innate and stereotyped.

It highlights a previously unrecognized level of cognitive flexibility in social insects.

Abstract

Social insects rely on multiple communication channels. These channels have traditionally been considered innate, eliciting stereotyped responses. However, recent research has shown that cognitive modulation occurs in communication contexts long assumed to be entirely genetically encoded, thus revealing a previously unrecognized cognitive plasticity in social insect communication.

Social insects rely on multiple communication channels. These channels have traditionally been considered innate, eliciting stereotyped responses. However, recent research has shown that cognitive modulation occurs in communication contexts long assumed to be entirely genetically encoded, thus revealing a previously unrecognized cognitive plasticity in social insect communication.

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