Fighting fish Mirror

Animal Behavior ReinforcementFirst Online:

DOI: 10.3758/BF03328586

Cite this article as: Goldstein, S.R. Psychon Sci (1967) 7: 331. doi:10.3758/BF03328586

Abstract

Thompson (1963) has demonstrated that Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) will learn to swim through a ring if this response is immediately followed by mirror-image presentation. The present study successfully repeats this demonstration and shows, through the use of yoked-control (mirror-image noncontingent) and operant-control (mirror-image absent) groups, that the effect cannot be accounted for by an enhancement of general activity, though such a factor appears to exert a small, though not insignificant, effect on operant responding.

Note

1. The helpful comments and suggestions of Drs. W. Runquist, R. Stretch, and T. Thompson, regarding various drafts of this paper, and the help of Mr. P. de Groot with the design and construction of equipment, is gratefully acknowledged.