THE BEZOLD-BRUCKE EFFECT IN THE COLOR-VISION SYSTEM OF THE HONEYBEE

Evidence is presented that intensity dependent color shifts (Bezold-Brucke effect) occur in the color vision system of the honeybee. The evidence comes from a fit between the choices of monochromatic lights in training experiments (Menzel, R., 1981; Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 141, 389-393) and the choice percentages derived now from recently presented quantitative predictions from the color opponent coding (COC) model for the bee (Backhaus, W., 1991; Vision Research, 31, 1381-1397) for the Bezold-Brucke effect. The only open parameter in the simulations of the training experiments is an experiment type dependent factor describing the weighting of color differences (judgment values) in the choice behavior. The results show (1) that the Bezold-Brucke effect exists in the bee. The results (2) confirm the color opponent coding (COC) model which was developed to describe the physiological components of the color vision system in the bee, (3) the general psychophysical assumptions about the structure of the color space, (4) the color difference formula, and (5) the general psychophysical assumptions about the (triadic) structure of judgments as tested in color similarity experiments.