Abstract
Object recognition memory is the ability to discriminate between novel and familiar objects. This form of memory aids fish in natural environments in avoiding predators, locating food, choosing mates, and selecting a suitable habitat. Many species have shown object recognition memory using adaptations of the novel object recognition (NOR) task. Fish (e.g., zebrafish, guppies, damselfish) remember objects after intervals from 5 min to 24 hr. The present study utilized the NOR task to evaluate if seven goldfish remembered objects after memory intervals ranging from 5 min to 30 days. The objects were plastic figurines of aquatic animals (e.g., whale, octopus). Preliminary results for the 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, 2 hr, 4 hr, and 6 hr sessions indicated memory for objects in the 5 minute, 10 minute, and 30 minute intervals. Four out of seven fish showed a preference to touch the novel stimulus more often than the familiar stimulus. Additional subjects are being tested and statistical analyses are ongoing. Contrary to the popular myth of a three second memory, these results using the NOR task suggest that goldfish remember objects for many minutes, possibly multiple hours or days.
Kenneth Tyler Wilcox
Statistical Consultant
My research interests include integrative data analysis, meta-analysis, topic modeling, Bayesian statistics, multilevel modeling, statistical programming, and psychology.