Data from: Tandem-running and scouting behavior are characterized by up-regulation of learning and memory formation genes within the ant brain

Tandem-running is a recruitment behavior in ants that has been described
as a form of teaching, where spatial information possessed by a leader is
conveyed to following nestmates. Within Temnothorax ants, tandem-running
is used within a variety of contexts, from foraging and nest relocation to
– in the case of slavemaking species – slave raiding. Here, we elucidate
the transcriptomic basis of scouting, tandem-leading, and tandem-following
behavior across two species with divergent lifestyles: the slavemaking
Temnothorax americanus and its primary, non-parasitic host T.
longispinosus. Analysis of gene expression data from brains revealed that
only a small number of unique differentially-expressed genes are
responsible for scouting and tandem-running. Comparison of orthologous
genes between T. americanus and T. longispinosus suggests that
tandem-running is characterized by species-specific patterns of gene
usage. However, within both species, tandem-leaders showed gene expression
patterns median to those of scouts and tandem-followers, which was
expected, as leaders can be recruited from either of the other two
behavioral states. Most importantly, a number of differentially-expressed
behavioral genes were found, with functions relating to learning and
memory formation in other social and non-social insects. This includes a
number of up-regulated receptor genes such as a glutamate and dopamine
receptor, as well as serine/threonine protein phosphatases and kinases.
Learning and memory genes were specifically up-regulated within scouts and
tandem-followers, not only reinforcing previous behavioral studies into
how Temnothorax navigate novel environments and share information, but
also providing insight into the molecular underpinnings of teaching and
learning within social insects.