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. 2021 Jul 31;11(8):2271. doi: 10.3390/ani11082271

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Relational map-like spatial representations in small stimulus-controlled mazes. (A) Two group of goldfish were trained to exit from an enclosure in a spatial constancy task which requires the use of allocentric (relational) strategies or in a cued version of the same task. The access from the start compartments, the distribution of the experimental visual cues (black and white symbols), the position of the glass barrier, and the location of the goal (exit) are shown for both training procedures. The numbers indicate the percentage of trials initiated from each start compartment. The arrows show the most efficient trajectories to the goal. Note that in the transfer tests the deletion of the local cues directly associated with the goal (Transfer Test 1) did not alter the performance in the relational task (spatial constancy), however the alteration of the global layout of the experimental setup (Transfer test 2) disrupted performance, even though the relationships between the local cues and the goal remained unaltered in the transfer tests. The green check marks indicate the door corresponding to the goal during training conditions. The figures on the right show the percentage of correct responses during training and transfer tests. Asterisks denote significant differences. Modified from [16]. (B) Encoding of geometrical spatial information by goldfish. Fish were trained to find the exit door (goal) placed in a corner (a) of a rectangular environment on the basis of the geometrical information provided by the apparatus. The arena had three identical, blocked openings (glass barriers) in the other three corners (b–d). Note that because of the geometric properties of the apparatus, the correct corner was indistinguishable from the diagonally opposite (180°) corner (rotational error). The percentage of choices for the four corners during training is shown. Two different probe trials were carried out in which the glass barriers were not used, so that fish could exit freely through any door. For the invalidated geometry test, a new apparatus that modified the geometric properties of the experimental enclosure was used. Numbers in the diagrams indicate the percentage of choices to each door during the tests. Modified from [87].