Memory of a goldfish? It's not so bad! Fish can remember where food is after 12 DAYS
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People who joke about having the memory of a goldfish may have to think again, after scientists have found fish can remember events for up to a fortnight.
Canadian researchers trained fish to locate food before removing them from the tank for 12 days.
When the fish were later reintroduced, motion-tracking software revealed they could identify the precise location of the food.
Researchers studied African Cichlids (Humphead Cichlid pictured) which were trained to enter a particular zone of the aquarium to be fed. Each training session lasted twenty minutes and after three days, they were given a 12-day rest period. They were later reintroduced to the tank and were able to locate the source of food
The study looked at African Cichlids, a popular aquarium species which has previously been shown to demonstrate complex behaviours, including aggression.
'FISH FEEL PAIN LIKE HUMANS DO'
Fishing may not seem like such a relaxing sport anymore, as scientists claim to have found that fish feel pain, just like humans.
Associate Professor Culum Brown of Macquarie University in Australia believes fish have the same intelligence as other animals and consequently, people should care more for their welfare.
He added fish have good memories and exhibit behaviour seen in primates, such as building complicated structures like specially-shaped sandcastles, as well as using tools.
They develop cultural traditions and can even recognise themselves and others.
Working on the assumption they could be capable of advanced memory tasks, each fish was trained to enter a particular zone of an aquarium to be fed, with each training session lasting twenty minutes.
After three days, the fish were given a 12-day rest period.
They were later reintroduced into their training arena, and their movements recorded with motion-tracking software.
This software revealed the fish returned to the spot where it found food.
Scientists believe the fish recalled the previous training experiences and were able to reverse this association, after further training sessions where the food reward was associated with a different stimulus.
Dr Trevor Hamilton of MacEwan University said: 'There are many anecdotes about how smart these fish are. Some people even believe that their cichlids watch television with them.
Wild cichlids (pictured) have a varied diet which includes snails, small fish, insects and plants and it is thought that they learn to associate locations with their preferred source of food. Researchers are now investigating whether the strength of fish memories are affected by environmental conditions or drugs
The term 'a memory like a goldfish' is believed to originate from a Swedish expression 'minne som en guldfisk.' It is based on the common misconception that goldfish (stock image pictured) have three-second memories
'Fish that remember where food is located have an evolutionary advantage over those that do not.
'If they are able to remember that a certain area contains food without the threat of a predator, they will be able to go back to that area. Decreases in the availability of food would promote the survival of species that can remember the location of food sources'.
Wild cichlids have a varied diet which includes snails, small fish, insects and plants and it is thought that they learn to associate locations with their preferred source of food.
Dr Hamilton is now investigating whether the strength of fish memories are affected by environmental conditions or pharmacological drugs.
The research was published in the Society for Experimental Biology.
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