"Reminiscence" in the cold flour beetle (Tenebrio molitor)

Retention of a T-maze task by adults of the species Tenebrio molitor was facilitated by exposure to 1.7°C. The facilitation effect was seen after 1, 3, 4, or 5 days of retention, but is was reversed after 2 days. The increment from day 2 to day 5 was termed "reminiscence." That these effects represented alterations in memory and not nonspecific motivational factors was determined by requiring another group of beetles to reverse their learning of the original task. Since reversal performance was inversely related to relearning, it was concluded that "reminiscence" represented alterations in memory. A multistage memory mechanism in the beetle was postulated.