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(Left) The optic lobes are thought to be involved in visual processing. In this study, researchers found that guppies with larger optic lobes more quickly learned a visual discrimination task—identifying which color well contained food. (Right) The fish telencephalon is thought to be involved in spatial learning, memory, and inhibitory control. Here, the researchers found that a larger telencephalon might enhance the fish’s cognitive flexibility, allowing them to more quickly associate food with a new color after the researchers switched it.

Infographic: Two Guppy Brain Regions May Help Them Learn Tasks

While guppies with larger optic lobes were champions at learning visual discrimination tasks, guppies with larger telencephalons fared better when researchers switched things up.

Infographic: Two Guppy Brain Regions May Help Them Learn Tasks

Infographic: Two Guppy Brain Regions May Help Them Learn Tasks

While guppies with larger optic lobes were champions at learning visual discrimination tasks, guppies with larger telencephalons fared better when researchers switched things up.

While guppies with larger optic lobes were champions at learning visual discrimination tasks, guppies with larger telencephalons fared better when researchers switched things up.

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Photo of a Guppy fish

Fish Brain Region Size Correlates with Cognitive Flexibility

Natalia Mesa, PhD | Nov 14, 2022 | 3 min read

The relative sizes of specific parts of the guppy brain may explain why some fish are better at learning certain tasks than others.

Watching the Brain Remember

Sabrina Richards | May 16, 2013 | 3 min read

For the first time, researchers visualize zebrafish memory retrieval in real time.

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