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Anim Cogn. 2016 Nov;19(6):1071-1079. Epub 2016 Jul 15.

Episodic-like memory in zebrafish.

Author information

1
Department of Psychology, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4S2, Canada. trevorjameshamilton@gmail.com.
2
Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada. trevorjameshamilton@gmail.com.
3
Department of Psychology, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4S2, Canada.
4
Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada.

Abstract

Episodic-like memory tests often aid in determining an animal's ability to recall the what, where, and which (context) of an event. To date, this type of memory has been demonstrated in humans, wild chacma baboons, corvids (Scrub jays), humming birds, mice, rats, Yucatan minipigs, and cuttlefish. The potential for this type of memory in zebrafish remains unexplored even though they are quickly becoming an essential model organism for the study of a variety of human cognitive and mental disorders. Here we explore the episodic-like capabilities of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in a previously established mammalian memory paradigm. We demonstrate that when zebrafish were presented with a familiar object in a familiar context but a novel location within that context, they spend more time in the novel quadrant. Thus, zebrafish display episodic-like memory as they remember what object they saw, where they saw it (quadrant location), and on which occasion (yellow or blue walls) it was presented.

KEYWORDS:

Declarative memory; Episodic-like memory; Object recognition; One-trial test; Zebrafish

PMID:
27421709
DOI:
10.1007/s10071-016-1014-1
[Indexed for MEDLINE]

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