Interval timing in Siamese fighting fish ( Betta splendens)

• Published in: Behavioural processes Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 501 - 509
• Main Authors: Higa, J.J., Simm, L.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 30-11-2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agnatha and pisces; Animal; Animal ethology; Animals; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Betta splendens; Biological and medical sciences; Conditioning; Fishes; Fixed interval schedules of reinforcement; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Interval timing; Learning. Memory; Male; Mirror image reinforcers; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Reinforcement Schedule; Siamese fighting fish; Swimming response; Time Perception; Vertebrata; Betta splendens; Interval timing; Mirror image reinforcers; Siamese fighting fish; Fixed interval schedules of reinforcement; Swimming response; Aquatic environment; Vertebrata; Visual stimulus; Pisces; Animal; Stimulus interval; Reinforcement; Experimental study; Time analysis; Aggressiveness
• ISSN: 0376-6357; 1872-8308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2004.08.007

The present study evaluated the temporal performance of Siamese fighting fish (
Betta splendens) given short-term exposure to four fixed interval (FI) schedules of reinforcement, FI 30, 60, 120, and 240
s, during which a reinforcer (mirror image) was given for the first response (swimming through a hoop) after the interval requirement had elapsed. Response levels were generally low early in an interval and increased as the interval elapsed; wait times and break points in an interval increased with increases in the FI requirement. The results were similar to that obtained with other species and different types of responses and reinforcers, and demonstrate that the procedure is a feasible method for studying interval timing in fish.