Personality Traits: Introvert and Extrovert in Different Social Environments
Location
FA 202
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Personality traits, such as extroversion/introversion, can impact behavior in different social environments. The purpose of the study is to measure the personality trait of introversion/extroversion in zebrafish and characterize their swim behavior in two types of social environments. Adult male and female zebrafish will be randomly selected (n=10) from housing tanks. After selection, the degree of introversion/extroversion will be measured using a feeding methodology where the fish will be placed in a tank with a layer of food on top of a plexiglass barrier. The strength of the personality type as an introvert or extravert will be based on the time spent at the food stimulus. Extroverts will spend more time near the barrier, whereas introverts will spend less time at the barrier. After the personality test, the swim behavior will be assessed in the novel tank (boldness) and social preference (sociability) environments. In the novel tank environment, time spent in the bottom ⅓ of the tank will be measured and in the social preference environment time spent within a body length of side with conspecifics will be measured. Results are expected to show that fish classified as introverts will spend more time in the bottom ⅓ of the novel tank environment and extrovert fish will spend more time near the conspecifics in the social preference environment. The relevance of this study gives an understanding of how the environment interacts with personality and provides evidence for the viability of the zebrafish as a model for understanding the impacts of genetics and environment in shaping personality.
Faculty Sponsor
Shannon Saszik, Northeastern Illinois University
Personality Traits: Introvert and Extrovert in Different Social Environments
FA 202
Personality traits, such as extroversion/introversion, can impact behavior in different social environments. The purpose of the study is to measure the personality trait of introversion/extroversion in zebrafish and characterize their swim behavior in two types of social environments. Adult male and female zebrafish will be randomly selected (n=10) from housing tanks. After selection, the degree of introversion/extroversion will be measured using a feeding methodology where the fish will be placed in a tank with a layer of food on top of a plexiglass barrier. The strength of the personality type as an introvert or extravert will be based on the time spent at the food stimulus. Extroverts will spend more time near the barrier, whereas introverts will spend less time at the barrier. After the personality test, the swim behavior will be assessed in the novel tank (boldness) and social preference (sociability) environments. In the novel tank environment, time spent in the bottom ⅓ of the tank will be measured and in the social preference environment time spent within a body length of side with conspecifics will be measured. Results are expected to show that fish classified as introverts will spend more time in the bottom ⅓ of the novel tank environment and extrovert fish will spend more time near the conspecifics in the social preference environment. The relevance of this study gives an understanding of how the environment interacts with personality and provides evidence for the viability of the zebrafish as a model for understanding the impacts of genetics and environment in shaping personality.