Can robotic fish help zebrafish learn to open doors?

Yanpeng Yang, Brandon Lemay, Rana El Khoury, Romain J.G. Clément, Stefano Ghirlanda, Maurizio Porfiri

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Zebrafish is a widely used animal model in behavioral neuroscience. However, zebrafish learning capabilities are not completely understood. Technological advancements in robotics promise fine behavioral control of artificial conspecifics to study complex aspects of social behavior. In this work, we developed a training system aimed at investigating individual and social learning of zebrafish. The system consists of a shallow water tank, a 2- dimensional robotic platform, and a real-time tracking software. In the tank, a focal individual is separated from a shoal of conspecifics by a one-way glass and a transparent partition, allowing the focal fish to see the shoal. In the transparent partition are two doors, one that automatically opens when the focal individual spends a predetermined amount of time in front of it and another that remains closed regardless of the fish behavior. We tested the system by training one nälve fish in individual learning and one fish in social learning over 20 sessions. Test results show that the fish can learn to open the door and also validated the effectiveness of the developed system applying on individual and social learning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationBioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication IX
EditorsRaul J. Martin-Palma, Mato Knez, Akhlesh Lakhtakia
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510625853
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
EventBioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication IX 2019 - Denver, United States
Duration: Mar 4 2019Mar 5 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume10965
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceBioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication IX 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDenver
Period3/4/193/5/19

Keywords

  • Biorobotics
  • Live tracking
  • Social learning
  • Zebrafish

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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