Abstract

HURTADO-PARRADO, CAMILO. Neuronal mechanisms of learning in teleost fish. Univ. Psychol. [online]. 2010, vol.9, n.3, pp.663-678. ISSN 1657-9267.

Two predominant approaches for studying the neurobiology of learning in fish are reviewed: brain lesions and chemical stimulation. Habituation, sensitization, Pavlovian Conditioning, spatial behavior, and emotional learning are the specific processes analyzed. Regarding the effect of brain lesions, telencephalic ablations produced impairment of habituation learning; conversely, cerebellum lesions caused deficiencies in classical conditioning of eye-retraction and spatial learning (similar effects observed in mammals suggest that the functions of the cerebellum may have evolved early in vertebrate history). Medium Pallium (MP) areas have been identified as critical for emotional learning in fish. Furthermore, neurobehavioral functions of MP seem to be similar to the functions of the amygdala in mammals. Relating to neurochemical processes, NMDA receptor antagonists affected the acquisition of avoidance and fear conditioning in a dose-dependent manner. Alternatively, Nitric Oxide (NO) and cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) seem to be involved in the consolidation process of emotional learning.

Keywords : Neurobehavioral functions; neurochemical functioning; teleost fish; learning processes; spatial learning; Medium Lateral Pallium; Teleost Fish; Neurochemistry; Cerebrum; Injuries; Medium Pallium Lateral.

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