Scientists have discovered that, just like humans, honeybees often find the best way to resolve indecision in a colleague is to administer a swift clout round the back of the head.

While such practices are now largely frowned upon in most human organisations - though any potential TechEye interns have to learn how to make good tea somehow - for bees it is a vital tool in problem solving with long periods of procrastination.

According to researchers from Sheffield University, such a physical approach to curtailing indecision is remarkably similar to how neurons in human brains stamp out umming and ahhing.

When bees are looking for a new hive, they organise themselves into systems very much like that of neuron structures in human brains.

A number of scouts are sent out to eye up potential property.

Adopt A Hive

Those which find a place with potential do a cool �waggle dance� to attract attention, presumably in the manner of a gleeful estate agent when the customer's left the room.

This dance is essentially a sign to other scouts that they have found a lovely hole in a tree somewhere. However, there's often a likelihood that others too have found similarly suitable properties. This leaves the bees with a decision: either decide on a move quickly or risk the whole hive�s safety.

Faced with such an important decision with equally viable options displayed by the troupe of waggle dancers, a choice has to be made.

This is where it all gets a bit like the working of the human brain. Just like brain signals inhibiting certain neurons to narrow down the decision making process - and avoid the brain owner standing around like a late-night Burger King customer perusing the meal deals - the bees are given crude �stop signals�.

Adopt A Hive

Said stop signals involve decision making bees seeking out dancing scouts and reducing the options by bashing them in the head and making �shrill beeping sounds�.

The scientists reckon that bees �stop signals� could tell us something useful about the functioning of our brains, as the similarities are so striking in terms of functionality.

�This remarkable behaviour emerges naturally from the very simple interactions observed between the individual bees in the colony," the boffins said.

Adopt A Hive