[Timezone Detection]
Create Account - Join in Seconds!

User Name: Email Address:
Human Verification

Please enter the six letters or digits that appear in the image opposite.

Stupid goldfish in a bowl


Bookmark and Share
Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    jimsflies - Reefkeeper
    Admin/Founder

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    11,467
    First Name
    Jim

    Default Stupid goldfish in a bowl

    (From the University of Helsinki.)

    The brain adapts to needs, both in fish and humans.

    A goldfish in a bowl is a stock allegory for stupidity we know for example from Donald Duck. Recent brain research supports this assumption. But it is not the fish that is stupid as such, it is the bowl that makes it that way. The bowl is void of any stimuli which the goldfish should react to with its brain.

    The situation is made even worse by the fact that pet goldfish descend from cultured stock. This means that the parents of the goldfish have been given the opportunity to parent without having to pass the cruel intelligence test of a real ocean environment -- they have never had to find food, outwit predators, and they survived until sexual maturity without any adversity.

    The goldfish syndrome may also partly explain problems associated with fish stocking. Salmon cultivated in fish farms are usually unable to adapt to original river habitats. "The fry most likely to survive in fish farms are those who are the first to rush to the feed dispensers. In a natural environment, such foolhardy risk-takers are usually caught by predators in no time," says Jussi Koskinen, a doctoral student from the University of Helsinki Department of Biosciences.

    A cultured fish can also be discerned from a natural fish on the basis of their brains. According to Koskinen, the size of the brain in relation to body size grows faster in fry born out of natural fish than in cultured fries. In addition, the cerebellum, which plays an important role in motor control, is larger in fry originating from wild parents and those reared in an enriched environment.

    Group-living improves vision

    The brain of a fish adjusts easily to meet its environmental needs. Researcher Abigel Gonda has compared the brain size between populations of nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) living in the sea and in sheltered small ponds. These are small, bony and spiky fish, which raise more enthusiasm in scientists than amongst fishermen.

    There is a plethora of predators and varying sources of food in a sea, so the olfactory bulbs and telencephala of the marine nine-spined stickleback grow larger in comparison to their pond-inhabiting relatives. In test conditions, however, marine and pond sticklebacs behave in a similar manner.

    Individuals who had grown up in a group developed a larger visual brain centre, while those who grew individually developed a larger olfactory centre. "Brain cells consume a great deal of energy, which is why they are allocated on a needs basis. In a group, information about your mates can be perceived visually, whereas when you are on your own, you need to resort more to your sense of smell," Gonda explains.

    Loss of a capacity makes room in the brain

    Humans cannot, for obvious ethical reasons, be subjected to similar studies.We do know, however, that the human brain remains plastic and malleable throughout its life.

    From the perspective of the brain, the accuracy of performance is roughly equated with more brains cells involved in processing a given phenomenon and that the connections between these brain cells improve. "Congenitally deaf people have superior peripheral vision when tested as adults. And, amazingly, people who are born blind use their visual cortex for completely different tasks, such as learning and memory," says Kai Kaila, Professor of Neurobiology.
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    Last edited by jimsflies; 05-04-2012 at 10:24 AM.
    Likes MizTanks liked this post

  2. #2
    larryandlaura - Reefkeeper
    Team CR

    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Houghton Lake
    Posts
    5,338
    First Name
    Larry
    Awards Monthly Giveaway Winner Fantasy Football Champion Referral Award Monthly Giveaway Winner

    Default

    Great read Jim.
    Hi my name is Larry and I'm a coral addict!

  3. #3
    MizTanks - Reefkeeper
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    U.P. of Michigan.
    Posts
    8,444
    First Name
    Jamie
    Awards Photo of the Month - October 2012 Photo of the Month Post and Reply Award - Winner of the first PAR Contest. Monthly Giveaway Winner

    Default

    Very great read Jim~thanks for taking the time to share this with us
    There's nothing like being a Reefer! www.upmmas.com

Similar Topics

  1. Reef Aquarium Fish Stupid Wrasse
    By ReeferRob in forum Marine Fish
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 10-18-2009, 07:19 PM
  2. Lighting/ Halide Feeling STUPID!
    By AquaSquid in forum Hardware
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 05-12-2006, 05:01 PM
  3. Crabs, Urchins & Starfish Stupid question
    By TNT in forum Other Marine Life
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 02-10-2006, 01:40 AM
  4. Perhaps a Stupid question
    By Randy in forum Basics
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-31-2005, 02:09 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new articles
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

About CaptiveReefs

    If you are interested in learning about reefkeeping or have a problem with your reef, our reefkeeping community is here to help. Feel free to ask a question or search our site. We have lots of experienced reefkeepers that are willing to provide free reefkeeping advice!

    Besides being a great resource for all levels of reef aquarium hobbyists, CaptiveReefs is a social experience that will enhance your enjoyment of reefkeeping. CaptiveReefs is committed to connecting reefkeepers with the support and information they need to grow beautiful coral reef aquariums.

Information

Connect with Us