These Scientists Taught A Goldfish To Drive A Fishbowl With Motorized Wheels

These Scientists Taught A Goldfish To Drive A Fishbowl With Motorized Wheels

Goldfish can drive, although not like humans do. A group of this type of aquatic animals was trained to use a Fish Operated Vehicle (FOV) to carry out a scientific experiment related to their navigation skills.

Interestingly, the fish managed to drive the wheeled vehicle in a terrestrial environment. According to the researchers, this demonstrates that fish can transfer their spatial representation and navigational abilities to environments that are completely different from aquatic ones.

FOV, a fish tank on wheels

The experiment originated when a team of researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel set out to study the navigational ability of fish in the terrestrial environment. The ultimate goal of the experiment was to identify whether that ability is a universal function or depends on the environment.

To carry out this unusual experiment, the researchers developed the Fish Operated Vehicle (FOV). It is a fish tank located on a platform with motorized wheels, a small computer, LIDAR sensors, a mast, and a camera.

The camera was in charge of detecting the movements of the fish, and the computer transformed them into navigation directions. Consequently, the FOV could move from one side to the other responding to the commands of the colorful aquatic animal.

In the experimental sessions, the FOV with a goldfish (Carassius auratus) was located in a certain place in a 3×4 m room with white walls. On one of the walls, the team placed a pink cardboard, which was the goal that the fish had to reach.

FOV, a fish tank on wheels

Every time the fish reached the target, the fish received a food reward. To the researchers’ surprise, after a few days of training, the fish sailed towards the target on their own, even if they were interrupted along the way.

The team says their research, published in the journal Behavioral Brain Research, supports the hypothesis that “navigational ability is universal rather than environment-specific.” They also point out that goldfish have the cognitive ability to learn complex tasks in different environments.