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Behavioral studies of stimulus learning in zebrafish larvae.

ABSTRACT: Within a week of fertilization, a zebrafish larva has developed a robust behavioral repertoire that includes the ability to learn about noncontingent stimuli. I begin this paper with a brief review of the t1-t2 framework in which groups receive different experiences at the first time point (t1) followed by a common assessment at the second time point (t2) and the strengths of this framework for studying stimulus learning. I then describe assays that have been implemented within the t1-t2 framework to demonstrate stimulus learning in the developing zebrafish. I discuss how these assays have been used to address three fundamental questions about stimulus learning: What are the conditions for stimulus learning? What is the content of stimulus learning? How is stimulus learning reflected in behavior? For each of these three questions, I also identify those issues regarding stimulus learning in the developing zebrafish that warrant further analysis at the behavioral level.

SUBMITTER: Colwill RM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6744834 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Behavioral studies of stimulus learning in zebrafish larvae.

Colwill Ruth M RM

Behavioural processes 20190502

Within a week of fertilization, a zebrafish larva has developed a robust behavioral repertoire that includes the ability to learn about noncontingent stimuli. I begin this paper with a brief review of the t1-t2 framework in which groups receive different experiences at the first time point (t1) followed by a common assessment at the second time point (t2) and the strengths of this framework for studying stimulus learning. I then describe assays that have been implemented within the t1-t2 framewo ...[more]

PMID: 31054948

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Project description:Zebrafish are easy to breed in a laboratory setting as they are extremely fertile and produce dozens of eggs per set. Because zebrafish eggs and the skin of the early-stage larvae are transparent, their embryos and the hearts and muscles of their larvae can be easily observed. Multiple rapid analyses of heart rate and behavior can be performed on these larvae simultaneously, enabling investigation of the influence of neuroactive substances on abnormal behavior, death, and associated pathogenetic mechanisms. Zebrafish larvae are becoming increasingly popular among researchers and are used in laboratories worldwide to study various vertebrate life phenomena; more experimental systems using zebrafish will undoubtedly be developed in the future. However, based on the available literature, we believe that the conceptualization of a protocol based on scientific evidence is necessary to achieve standardization. We exposed zebrafish larvae at 6-7 days post-fertilization to 50 repeated light-dark stimuli at either 15-min or 5-min intervals. We measured the traveled distance and habituation time through a video tracking apparatus. The traveled distance stabilized after the 16th repetition when the zebrafish were exposed to light-dark stimuli at 15-min intervals and after the 5th repetition when exposed at 5-min intervals. Additionally, at 15-min intervals, the peak of the traveled distance was reached within the first minute in a dark environment, whereas at 5-min intervals, it did not reach the peak even after 5 min. The traveled distance was more stable at 5-min intervals of light/dark stimuli than at 15-min intervals. Therefore, if one acclimatizes zebrafish larvae for 1 h and collects data from the 5th repetition of light/dark stimuli at intervals of 5 min in the light/dark test, a stable traveled distance result can be obtained. The establishment of this standardized method would be beneficial for investigating substances of unknown lethal concentration.

Dataset Information

Behavioral studies of stimulus learning in zebrafish larvae.

Publications

Behavioral studies of stimulus learning in zebrafish larvae.

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