j *@ - Sociedade Brasileira de Psicologia

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A' multiple choice experiment Fith free flying bees was performed for metric
and nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysks of the similsrity relations of color
stimuli. The matrix of choice proportions was symmetric, so that the data were
interpreted as representing results of difference judpnents. Multidimensionz analysis
showed that the bees color visiorf system is twodimensional and the judgments are due
to a dty-block-metric (Backhaus et al., 1987).
6. Opm nent color coding in bees
n e two scales obviously represent a blue/peennes and a Uv/pwplenes
dimension in agreement with the kind of opponency exclusively found in intracclltlar
recordings from spectrally antagonistic neurons. 'lhe calculated and intracellulary
measuied spectral sensitivities of spectrally opponent cells are in good
agreement (Menzel and Backhaus, in pres). 'rhe spectral light discrimination ftmction
measmed by Helversen (1972) is in very good apeement with the result of a simulation
of that experim ent based on the opponent color coding model. Furthermore,
quantitative predictions for the intensity dependent color shifts (Bezold-Bruecke
efed) are made but have not yet been measmed in bees (Backhaus, 1988). From this
folows, that bees e-qn derive color similarity meastlres directly from the excitations of
the opponent color coding cels. Folowing the arpxmentation from above, we emnnot
conclude from these resul. ts that bees have some kind of color impressions. However,
the existence of a lmique color system emn also not be excluded. '
References:
Backhaus, W., Menzel, R., Kleissl, S. 1987. Multidimensional scaling of color similarity in bees.
Biol. o âern. 56 : 293-304.
Backhaus, W., 1988. Color diferenœ and color opponency in beel. N. Elsner, F.G. 3arth (eds.) p.
220, Thieme, Stutgart-kew York.
Ekman, G., 1954. Dimensions of color Wsion.l. Psychol. J8: 467-474.
Ekman, G., 1963.* A dizect method for m ultidimensional ratio scz%nz.psychometrîka 28: 3-41.
Hard, A., 1966. Philisophy of the Hering-lohanswn Natural Colour System olkr:e 7J: 287.
Helm , C.E . 1964. M ultidimensional ratio scaling analysis of perceived color relations. Z Opt. Soc.
Am. J4: 256-262. .
Helversen, O.V., 1972. Zur spektzalen Unterschiedsemprmdlichkeit der Honigbiene. J. C.omp.
Physiol. 8p:439-472.
Hering, E., 1905. Grtmdzuege einer Lelue vom Lichtsinn. .lxipzig. (Outlines of a theoa of the
light sense (kanslated by L.M. Hurvich and D. Jnmesonlrllarvard Univkycambridge mas (1964)).