Are Mosquitoes Becoming Intelligent?
WouterPreviously, scientists had little knowledge of how the mosquito brain worked. But now, researchers at the University of Washington have discovered that the tiny insects are learning. They’ve become more intelligent, stronger and more resilient than they used to be.
In an experiment, scientists exposed mosquitoes to different scents. They also trained the mosquitoes to associate smells with vibrations and unpleasant shocks. They used a technique called Pavlovian conditioning. After a short period of exposure, the mosquitoes learned to avoid the odors.
Scientists are now looking into whether switching off their learning ability could be a new approach to controlling mosquito populations. This would allow them to survive longer and breed more. They plan to release bacteria-infected mosquitoes in South Miami and Miami-Dade County.
One of the key factors that helps mosquitoes learn is dopamine. Dopamine modulates neural activity in the brain’s olfactory centers. When a mosquito learns that an odor is associated with vibration or shock, it will actively avoid it.
The mosquitoes that were genetically modified to have no dopamine receptors, or to have a dopamine receptor that is less active, were less likely to fire neurons when exposed to a scent. They were more likely to die. However, the genetically modified mosquitoes that did have dopamine receptors had more neurons and were more sensitive to the odors.
The University of Washington researchers have found that the mosquitoes learned to avoid certain body odors. They also learned to avoid human body odors.
