Bees get a buzz from cocaine
Scientists have conducted research hoping to solve that age-old question: "What happens if you give a honey bee cocaine?"
Knowing honey bees, like humans, are motivated by rewards, Australian researchers set out to test the hypothesis that they are also vulnerable to cocaine.
After applying a tiny drop of cocaine solution to the bees' backs they monitored their dance communication system, which is used to tell other bees where food is and how good it tastes.
The researchers say the cocaine bees danced much more enthusiastically than normal and even had withdrawal difficulties going cold turkey.
For their next task the boffins will be investing in a video camera and recording a special honey bee version of Trainspotting.
Dr Andrew Barron of Macquarie University's Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour said: "What we're doing essentially is using cocaine as a tool to better understand how these tiny but quite complex brains function.
"We found was that the honey bee responds to cocaine in very similar ways as humans, so cocaine changes the way the bees evaluate."
He added that the research could lead to the development of new treatments to prevent or treat addiction.
LINKS
