Evaluation of Colour Preference in Zebrafish for Learning and Memory

There is growing interest in using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. A zebrafish model of tauopathies has recently been developed and characterised in terms of presence of the pathological hallmarks (i.e. neurofibrillary tangles and cell d...

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Main Authors: Avdesh, A., Martin-Iverson, M., Mondal, A., Chen, M., Askraba, S., Morgan, N., Lardelli, M., Groth, David, Verdile, G., Martins, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: IOS Press 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24561
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author Avdesh, A.
Martin-Iverson, M.
Mondal, A.
Chen, M.
Askraba, S.
Morgan, N.
Lardelli, M.
Groth, David
Verdile, G.
Martins, R.
author_facet Avdesh, A.
Martin-Iverson, M.
Mondal, A.
Chen, M.
Askraba, S.
Morgan, N.
Lardelli, M.
Groth, David
Verdile, G.
Martins, R.
author_sort Avdesh, A.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description There is growing interest in using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. A zebrafish model of tauopathies has recently been developed and characterised in terms of presence of the pathological hallmarks (i.e. neurofibrillary tangles and cell death). However, it is also necessary to validate these models for function by assessing learning and memory. The majority of tools to assess memory and learning in animal models involve visual stimuli, including colour preference. The colour preference of zebrafish has received little attention. To validate zebrafish as a model for colour-associated-learning and memory, it is necessary to evaluate its natural preferences or any pre-existing biases towards specific colours. In the present study, we have used four different colours (red, yellow, green and blue) to test natural colour preferences of the zebrafish using two procedures: place preference (PP) and T-maze. Results from both experiments indicate a strong aversion towards blue colour relative to all other colours (red, yellow and green) when tested in combinations. No preferences or biases were found amongst reds, yellows and greens in the place preference procedure. However, red and green were equally preferred and both were preferred over yellow by zebrafish in the T-maze procedure. The results from the present study show a strong aversion towards blue colour compared to red, green and yellow, with yellow being less preferred relative to red and green. The findings from this study may underpin any further designing of colour-based learning and memory paradigms or experiments involving aversion, anxiety or fear in the zebrafish.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-245612017-09-13T15:52:51Z Evaluation of Colour Preference in Zebrafish for Learning and Memory Avdesh, A. Martin-Iverson, M. Mondal, A. Chen, M. Askraba, S. Morgan, N. Lardelli, M. Groth, David Verdile, G. Martins, R. Alzheimer’s disease learning and memory colour preference Place preference zebrafish T-maze There is growing interest in using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. A zebrafish model of tauopathies has recently been developed and characterised in terms of presence of the pathological hallmarks (i.e. neurofibrillary tangles and cell death). However, it is also necessary to validate these models for function by assessing learning and memory. The majority of tools to assess memory and learning in animal models involve visual stimuli, including colour preference. The colour preference of zebrafish has received little attention. To validate zebrafish as a model for colour-associated-learning and memory, it is necessary to evaluate its natural preferences or any pre-existing biases towards specific colours. In the present study, we have used four different colours (red, yellow, green and blue) to test natural colour preferences of the zebrafish using two procedures: place preference (PP) and T-maze. Results from both experiments indicate a strong aversion towards blue colour relative to all other colours (red, yellow and green) when tested in combinations. No preferences or biases were found amongst reds, yellows and greens in the place preference procedure. However, red and green were equally preferred and both were preferred over yellow by zebrafish in the T-maze procedure. The results from the present study show a strong aversion towards blue colour compared to red, green and yellow, with yellow being less preferred relative to red and green. The findings from this study may underpin any further designing of colour-based learning and memory paradigms or experiments involving aversion, anxiety or fear in the zebrafish. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24561 10.3233/JAD-2011-110704 IOS Press fulltext
spellingShingle Alzheimer’s disease
learning and memory
colour preference
Place preference
zebrafish
T-maze
Avdesh, A.
Martin-Iverson, M.
Mondal, A.
Chen, M.
Askraba, S.
Morgan, N.
Lardelli, M.
Groth, David
Verdile, G.
Martins, R.
Evaluation of Colour Preference in Zebrafish for Learning and Memory
title Evaluation of Colour Preference in Zebrafish for Learning and Memory
title_full Evaluation of Colour Preference in Zebrafish for Learning and Memory
title_fullStr Evaluation of Colour Preference in Zebrafish for Learning and Memory
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Colour Preference in Zebrafish for Learning and Memory
title_short Evaluation of Colour Preference in Zebrafish for Learning and Memory
title_sort evaluation of colour preference in zebrafish for learning and memory
topic Alzheimer’s disease
learning and memory
colour preference
Place preference
zebrafish
T-maze
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24561