Researchers Train Goldfish to “Drive”

The Scientist spoke with cognitive neuroscientist Ronen Segev about how he taught goldfish to maneuver a moveable tank over land toward a visual target.

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Fish can navigate out of water, a study published on December 9 in the journal Behavioral Brain Research finds, suggesting that animal navigational abilities aren’t dependent on ecological context.

Previous studies have trained rats and dogs to operate vehicles, and in 2014, engineers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel developed a “fish on wheels” interface that allows fish to control a robotic car over land—essentially, a clear tank on a four-wheel platform that moves according to the orientation and movements of the fish inside. Last month, the scientists implemented this technology to test whether goldfish (Carassius auratus) can perceive and understand a waterless environment and transfer their spatial representation and navigation skills to the terrestrial realm.

I am excited to share a new study led by Shachar Givon & @MatanSamina w/ Ohad Ben Shahar: Goldfish can learn to navigate a small robotic vehicle on land. We trained goldfish ...

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    Chloe Tenn

    Chloe Tenn is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where she studied neurobiology, English, and forensic science. Fascinated by the intersection of science and society, she has written for organizations such as NC Sea Grant and the Smithsonian. Chloe also works as a freelancer with AZoNetwork, where she ghostwrites content for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food, energy, and environmental companies. She recently completed her MSc Science Communication from the University of Manchester, where she researched how online communication impacts disease stigma. You can check out more of her work here.

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