The numerical abilities of bees have been a frequently discussed topic in the world of biology in recent years. Some experts argued that bees had not demonstrated numerical abilities in previous experiments, but had succeeded merely by distinguishing differences between visual patterns. However, a team led by neuroscientist Mirko Zanon from the University of Trento in Italy and zoologist Scarlett Howard from Monash University in Australia conducted a study that will put an end to this debate. When assessing bees' cognitive abilities, researchers set aside the human-centered perspective and focused on analyzing the world through bees' eyes.
In previous important studies, bees were taught symbols paired with numerical values and then tested with cards containing a certain number of shapes. Although the bees demonstrated a 75-80 percent success rate during the training phase, critics claimed that this success was achieved through a method based on visual complexity rather than “counting.” Because bees' vision is coarser and less detailed than humans', critics argued that bees may not actually be selecting numbers, but rather cards that look more “complete” or “complex.”
Based on these criticisms, scientists re-examined the images used in previous experiments using a mathematical model based on bee vision. The evaluations showed that images with more objects do not necessarily appear “more complex” or “more detailed” to the bees. So the bees lacked the visual data they needed to pass the test in a misleading way using visual cues.
This supported the conclusion that bees respond directly to numerical quantities rather than visual complexity. The results, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, prove once again how important it is to evaluate the world not only from our own perspective, but also from that creature's ability to see and perceive when it comes to assessing an animal's intelligence.
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