Abstract
Recent research has demonstrated the suitability of adult zebrafish to model some aspects of complex behaviour. Studies of reward behaviour, learning and memory, aggression, anxiety and sleep strongly suggest that conserved regulatory processes underlie behaviour in zebrafish and mammals. The isolation and molecular analysis of zebrafish behavioural mutants is now starting, allowing the identification of novel behavioural control genes. As a result of this, studies of adult zebrafish are now helping to uncover the genetic pathways and neural circuits that control vertebrate behaviour.
Highlights
Recent research has demonstrated the suitability of adult zebrafish to model some aspects of complex behaviour
Contributions of zebrafish to behavioural genetics: Reward and Learning Reward behaviour Perhaps the most prominent area in which the adult zebrafish has contributed to behavioural genetics is reward
Drug dependency can be evaluated by measuring the persistence of conditioned place preference (CPP) following a period of abstinence
Summary
Anecdotally fish are thought to have poor memories and display few complex behaviours, numerous studies have disproved such beliefs. Fish manifest other behaviours, the discussion of which is beyond the scope of this review These behaviours include olfaction [75], vision [76], behavioural lateralisation [77], shoaling [3,78,79], locomotion [80,81] and reproductive behaviour [82]. Studies of adult fish are beginning to give clues about the initiation of locomotion, an assay that might be modified to probe the motivation to move. To date there have been relatively few studies of adult zebrafish behaviour, the ease of carrying out pharmacological studies coupled to the ever increasing number of available genetic tools suggest. We look forwards to the steps in the establishment of this fascinating field
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