Can Color Predict Mood Levels in Zebrafish?
Location
SU-103
Department
Psychology
Abstract
This research explores anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish by assessing their responses to variations in luminance (black & white) and chromatic (Red, Yellow, Blue & Green) environments. Mood levels in zebrafish will be measured during exposure to different colored environments using two experimental paradigms. In experiment (1), a novel tank test will be conducted where two groups of five zebrafish (n=10) are placed in a novel tank with distinct colored walls and behavior recorded for 2 minutes. Experiment (2) utilized a plus maze test, where a group of five zebrafish explore four different colored objects along each arm of the maze and behavior will be recorded for 5 minutes. Behavior will be recorded using a camera and videos are then processed in open source software (FastTrack.sh). The output file is opened in Excel, where calculations are made of different anxiety-like behaviors. Measurements include swim velocity (in pixels per millisecond), time spent in different areas or arms (ms), decreased/increased exploration (distance swam in pixels), and vertical exploration (time spent near top of tank in ms). Data will be analyzed using ANOVA to identify significant differences in behavior between colors or different colored objects. Post-hoc tests will be conducted where appropriate to determine specific group differences. This approach will provide insights into zebrafish mood regulation in response to variations in luminance and chromatics, to better understand the relationship between mood and color.
Faculty Sponsor
Shannon Saszik
Can Color Predict Mood Levels in Zebrafish?
SU-103
This research explores anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish by assessing their responses to variations in luminance (black & white) and chromatic (Red, Yellow, Blue & Green) environments. Mood levels in zebrafish will be measured during exposure to different colored environments using two experimental paradigms. In experiment (1), a novel tank test will be conducted where two groups of five zebrafish (n=10) are placed in a novel tank with distinct colored walls and behavior recorded for 2 minutes. Experiment (2) utilized a plus maze test, where a group of five zebrafish explore four different colored objects along each arm of the maze and behavior will be recorded for 5 minutes. Behavior will be recorded using a camera and videos are then processed in open source software (FastTrack.sh). The output file is opened in Excel, where calculations are made of different anxiety-like behaviors. Measurements include swim velocity (in pixels per millisecond), time spent in different areas or arms (ms), decreased/increased exploration (distance swam in pixels), and vertical exploration (time spent near top of tank in ms). Data will be analyzed using ANOVA to identify significant differences in behavior between colors or different colored objects. Post-hoc tests will be conducted where appropriate to determine specific group differences. This approach will provide insights into zebrafish mood regulation in response to variations in luminance and chromatics, to better understand the relationship between mood and color.