Robot-Fish Interaction Helps to Trigger Social Buffering in Neon Tetras: The Potential Role of Social Robotics in Treating Anxiety

Abstract

The emerging field of social robotics comprises several multidisciplinary applications. Anxiety and stress therapies can greatly benefit by socio-emotional support provided by robots, although the intervention of social robots as effective treatment needs to be fully understood. Herein, Paracheirodon innesi, a social fish species, was used to interact with a robotic fish to understand intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms causing anxiety, and how social robots can be effectively used as anxiety treatments. In the first experiment we tested the effects of a conspecific-mimicking robot on the fish tendency to swim in the bottom when transferred in a new tank. Here, P. innesi spent a significantly longer time in the upper section of the test tank when the robotic fish was present, clearly indicating a reduction of their state of anxiety due to social stimuli. The second experiment was based on a modification of the dark/light preference test, since many teleost fish are scototactic, preferring dark environments. However, when the robotic fish was placed in the white half of the test tank, P. innesi individuals swam longer in this section otherwise aversive. Social support provided by the robotic fish in both experiments produced a better recovery from anxiety due to social buffering, a phenomenon regulated by specific neural mechanisms. This study provides new insights on the evolution and mechanisms of social buffering to reduce anxiety, as well as on the use of social robots as an alternative to traditional approaches in treating anxiety symptoms.

Altering Fish Behavior by Sensing Swarm Patterns of Fish in an Artificial Aquatic Environment Using an Interactive Robotic Fish

“…Altering fish swarm patterns to manipulate the fish behavior in order to increase human interaction is rather a newer area of research. Biomimicry in robotic fish has been vastly improved while lesser attention has been given to the use of a robotic fish to change the behavior of fish to improve human interaction [ 35 , 36 ]. In addition to the use of robotic fish in the exploration and examination of aquatic life, another benefit of robotic fish is to improve human interaction with fish.…”

OpenFish: Biomimetic design of a soft robotic fish for high speed locomotion

“…On top of that, oscillating propulsion systems harvest energy from the turbulence at the wake of the vessel’s body. The abovementioned advantages have motivated the development of robotic fish with oscillating propulsion for applications such as trait-based ecology investigation [3] , studying the role of social robots in treating fish anxiety [4] , studying collective fish behavior [5] , studying the design principles and coordination mechanisms of biological systems [6] , energy harvesting [7] , tracking of real fish or underwater vehicles [8] , science education [9] , and water quality monitoring [10] .…”

The perceived effects of augmented trail sensing and mood recognition abilities in a human–fish biohybrid system

“…In addition to enhancing human perceptions, fish were also exposed to stimuli to boost the efficiency of human-fish encounters and to determine the responses of the fish to human contact. Previous studies have demonstrated that light may alter fish behavior (Popper andCarlson 1998, Romano andStefanini 2022b) and that fish can receive social and emotional support from robotic fish (Romano and Stefanini 2022a). To guarantee the validity of the interaction, we designed a means for people to interact with fish.…”