The Effect of Photocycle on Self-Control in Betta splendens

The present study examined the effect of varying light cycles on self-control in Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). The subjects included 16 male Betta splendens, and instrumental choice trials were run. A subject began each trial in the start box and, when a guillotine divider door was lifted, entered one side of a divided terminus. The checkerboard side of the choice door represented either the smaller, more immediate choice (SS) or the larger, more delayed choice (LL). When the subject had entered one side of the goal box, the guillotine divider door was lowered and the subject was given food pellets, 1 pellet immediately or 3 pellets after 18 seconds, depending on which side of the choice door the subject entered. Prior to and during these trials, subjects experienced various levels of daily light exposure (12:12 h light-dark or 6:18 h light-dark). Fish exposed to 6 hours of light and 18 hours of darkness were expected to have more impulsive choices, while fish exposed to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness were expected to exhibit more self-control choices. Contrary to the hypothesis, fish exposed to 6 hours of light and 18 hours of darkness exhibited more self-control choices than fish exposed to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Montana

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Lamp, Kathryn Gwen

• Betta splendens
• photocycle
• self control

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/991

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.umt.edu:etd-2010