Author: Noah Berman / Source: did you know?
Consider the humble goldfish. Many of us had some growing up – maybe more than we knew, given that they all look pretty much the same and are notoriously easy for sneaky parents to replace. As far as aquatic companions go, goldfish are about as straightforward as it gets.
And, allegedly, they are also about as dumb as it gets.
Most people have heard of the goldfish’s supposed “3-second memory span”. Recalling a goldfish has even become shorthand for telling someone they’re forgetful: “You’ve got the memory of a goldfish, you forgetful dummy!” Or something like that….
Despite their simplicity, could it be possible that goldfish can’t remember an event for longer than three seconds? Evolutionarily speaking, it seems like a pretty enormous disadvantage not to be able to remember where food is found or where danger lurks. When I was a kid, it always seemed like my goldfish swam to the surface right before I fed them…but were they actually anticipating their next meal?
As it turns out, yes. Yes, they were. Because the whole thing is a myth.
Goldfish actually have relatively good memories, and mine had learned that when I came over and unscrewed the lid off the food jar, they were about to get fed. This is an example of classical conditioning. Just as Pavlov’s dogs knew they were about to be fed every time he rang a bell, the goldfish were used to eating after I made certain motions.
Now, that’s just my own personal experience, but, according to the published literature, scientists agree.
Possibly due to the pervasiveness of this myth, a fair amount of research has studied the cognitive abilities of goldfish, and fish in general. According to Scottish researcher Dr Mike Webster, who has spent time investigating piscine intelligence:
“There is a lot of evidence now that fish are no dumber than birds or many mammals – and in many cases they are just as intelligent. Many fishes – such as minnows, sticklebacks, and guppies – are capable of the same intellectual feats as, for example, rats or mice. They can learn their way around mazes, they can learn to recognize other fish, and they can remember which individuals are better competitors.”
Ok, so they’re smarter than we think – but how well can fish remember?
…
The post Do Goldfish Really Have Three-Second Memories? Well… appeared first on FeedBox.