Project Title
Effects of Alcohol on Open Field Performance of Betta splendens
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Dr. Kristina L. Dandy
Abstract
Male Betta splendens reliably demonstrate aggressive dominance displays in the presence of male conspecifics or mirror images (e.g., Baenninger et al., 1969; Shapiro & Jensen, 2009), making them a good model for studying the effects of psychoactive substances on aggression. While drugs that increase serotonin have been shown to decrease aggressive displays in Betta fish (Lynn et al., 2007), the effects of CNS depressants like alcohol are not as well known. Prior research found that alcohol (0.50%) reduced aggressive-type dominance displays in Betta splendens (following Foberg, 2003), but it was unclear if this was due to reduced overall motor abilities or reduced aggression specifically. To address this, we aimed to assess to what degree alcohol affects locomotor behaviors in Betta fish, as measured by performance in an open field (Carvalho et al, 2015). Prior to testing, Betta fish were acclimated to the open field apparatus in the absence of alcohol. We then measured overall movement in an open field following exposure to varied concentrations of alcohol (0.15%, 0.30%, and 0.50%). Subjects' locomotor activity was operationally defined as distance traveled via the number of gridlines crossed. We expect to find a dose-dependent effect of alcohol on motoric behavior, with fewer line crosses made at higher doses. We also expect to find that alcohol enhances exploratory behavior in the center, versus periphery, of the open field. Overall, this research will further our understanding of Betta fish behavior, specifically in response to CNS depressants such as alcohol, and extend our general knowledge of animal behavior.
Effects of Alcohol on Open Field Performance of Betta splendens
Male Betta splendens reliably demonstrate aggressive dominance displays in the presence of male conspecifics or mirror images (e.g., Baenninger et al., 1969; Shapiro & Jensen, 2009), making them a good model for studying the effects of psychoactive substances on aggression. While drugs that increase serotonin have been shown to decrease aggressive displays in Betta fish (Lynn et al., 2007), the effects of CNS depressants like alcohol are not as well known. Prior research found that alcohol (0.50%) reduced aggressive-type dominance displays in Betta splendens (following Foberg, 2003), but it was unclear if this was due to reduced overall motor abilities or reduced aggression specifically. To address this, we aimed to assess to what degree alcohol affects locomotor behaviors in Betta fish, as measured by performance in an open field (Carvalho et al, 2015). Prior to testing, Betta fish were acclimated to the open field apparatus in the absence of alcohol. We then measured overall movement in an open field following exposure to varied concentrations of alcohol (0.15%, 0.30%, and 0.50%). Subjects' locomotor activity was operationally defined as distance traveled via the number of gridlines crossed. We expect to find a dose-dependent effect of alcohol on motoric behavior, with fewer line crosses made at higher doses. We also expect to find that alcohol enhances exploratory behavior in the center, versus periphery, of the open field. Overall, this research will further our understanding of Betta fish behavior, specifically in response to CNS depressants such as alcohol, and extend our general knowledge of animal behavior.