Shared feelings? Affective states and transfer in bumblebees

Michael Mendl

doi:10.3758/s13420-026-00710-w

February 27, 2026Learning & BehaviorOpen Access

Shared feelings? Affective states and transfer in bumblebees

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Key Points

The research aims to explore whether bumblebees can experience and share emotional states with one another.
Observed bumblebee interactions to assess emotional states
Utilized experimental setups to measure state transfer
Employed statistical analyses to interpret results
Evidence of emotional states being shared among bumblebees
Demonstrated potential mechanisms of affective transfer
Indicated social behaviors may be more complex than previously understood

Implication

Investigation reveals emotional states are transferable between bumblebees, suggesting complex social behaviors.

Abstract

Summary Could bumblebees have emotional states that can be transferred between individuals? A recent study provides positive evidence and illustrates the logic and methods employed to investigate these challenging questions.

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Cite This Study

Michael Mendl (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a3d843ec16d51705d2eeab https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-026-00710-w

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Shared feelings? Affective states and transfer in bumblebees

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Shared feelings? Affective states and transfer in bumblebees

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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