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

Abstract

Barela (Psychological Reports, 110: 173-186, 2012) presented a novel preparation for the experimental study of classical fear conditioning in goldfish, and successfully employed it in the demonstration of several basic conditioning principles. The present research addressed some basic methodological questions using a modified version of this preparation. Results indicated that the modification made to the visual CS increased its efficacy, and that conditioning to this stimulus was directly related to the number of CS-US trials given, US intensity, and intertrial interval. In addition, conditioning was detected with interstimulus intervals both shorter and longer than those used previously, as well as with an auditory CS. Methodological implications for the future employment of this preparation are discussed.

Aversive conditioning in the tardigrade, Dactylobiotus dispar.

“…Parallels have been made between the neural circuits supporting aversive conditioning and extinction in rodents and humans in attempts to better understand the biological bases of this defensive behavior (Delgado, Olsson, & Phelps, 2006). Moreover, aversive conditioning has been demonstrated in other mammals, including dogs (Moscovitch & LoLordo, 1968; Rescorla, 1968), cats (Diamond & Weinberger, 1984; Ryugo & Weinberger, 1978), rabbits (Jarrell, Gentile, Romanski, McCabe, & Schneiderman, 1987; Supple & Kapp, 1989), and nonhuman primates (Cook & Mineka, 1989; Melamed, Jesus, Maior, & Barros, 2017), and other vertebrates, such as birds (Jarvis, Mello, & Nottebohm, 1995; Maser, Gallup, & Barnhill, 1973; Reis, Schenka, Melo, & Ferrari, 1999) and fish (Barela, 2015; Kenney, Scott, Josselyn, & Frankland, 2017)—all likely having similar circuits that support aversive conditioning. Useful information has been gained from this approach, perhaps most important being the development and refinement of exposure therapies to treat anxiety disorders in humans (Ganella, Drummond, Ganella, Whittle, & Kim, 2018; Mears & Pollard, 2016; Mineka & Oehlberg, 2008; Vanelzakker, Dahlgren, Davis, Dubois, & Shin, 2014).…”

“…and fish (Barela, 2015;Kenney, Scott, Josselyn, & Frankland, 2017)-all likely having similar circuits that support aversive conditioning. Useful information has been gained from this approach, perhaps most important being the development and refinement of exposure therapies to treat anxiety disorders in humans (Ganella, Drummond, Ganella, Whittle, & Kim, 2018;Mears & Pollard, 2016;Mineka & Oehlberg, 2008;Vanelzakker, Dahlgren, Davis, Dubois, & Shin, 2014).…”