Conditioned Withdrawal in Goldfish: A Simple and Inexpensive Preparation for the Study of Classical Fear Conditioning in Vertebrates

Abstract

Summary.-A preparation for the study of classical fear conditioning in vertebrates is described. Its unique features are that it is inexpensive and easy to construct and operate. The following classical conditioning phenomena are demonstrated using this preparation: excitatory conditioning, extinction, contextual conditioning, blocking, a conditioned inhibition discrimination, and latent inhibition.

The goldfish conditioned withdrawal preparation: Effects of some basic methodological variables

“…The first was to replicate the previous finding that seven CS-US trials are sufficient for conditioning to be detected in this preparation, but this time, an actual, rather than a hypothetical, control group was used. The second was to determine whether the original Christmas light-CS used by Barela (2012) is similarly effective in producing conditioning, a determination that would bear on whether the modification made to the CS actually did improve the efficacy of this preparation.…”

“…As indicated above, the two red Christmas light-CSs used by Barela (2012) were replaced by two red pilot lights, with each of the latter affixed to a black cardboard square. The color black was chosen in an effort to camouflage the bulb, which appeared somewhat dark (due to the bulb recess) when not illuminated.…”

“…In addition to its being of use in the classroom, Barela (2012) suggested that this preparation (or some variation thereof) might also serve animal learning researchers as a viable, low-cost alternative to preparations that employ rodents, the current subject of choice in this area. Two lines of experimental research provided the basis for this suggestion: (1) studies showing that rats and goldfish obey the same laws of learning, and (2) studies indicating that the homologous brain structures in these animals subserve similar cognitive functions.…”

“…Therefore, to ensure perception of the CS during conditioning, both lights were illuminated simultaneously on each trial. 3 As indicated by Barela (2012), this 4-s CR criterion was chosen to allow for comparisons with potential experiments where conditioning is assessed, not after the completion of training, but rather, on a trial-by-trial basis, during the ISI, which, in the present experiment, was 4 s.…”

“…Also, all stimuli were controlled manually by the experimenter, as in Barela (2012). Finally, trend analyses and/or independent-sample t tests were performed using an SPSS statistical package, with alpha set at .05, two-tailed.…”