Habituation and Generalization of Aggression Response in Male Siamese Fighting Fish, Betta splendens

This study used a known species of aggressive fish and basic concepts of classical conditioning to look at learning capabilities. Habituation and generalization are two aspects of conditioning that use basic associations to learn responses. In this study mirror image was used to habituate Betta splendens aggression response. Fish of the same color and different color were then used as stimuli to look for level of aggression in the subjects. Although aggression diminished in the presence of a mirror level of aggression in the presence of live fish was not significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group during presentation of same or different colored fish; f = 0.18 and f = 0.07 respectively