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Lateralization of aggression in fish.

Angelo Bisazza1, Andrea de Santi

  • 1Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.

Behavioural Brain Research
|May 14, 2003
PubMed
Summary
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Aggressive behavior in teleost fish shows a right-eye dominance, contrasting with the left-eye preference observed in other vertebrates. This study investigated eye use lateralization in three fish species during aggressive encounters.

Area of Science:

  • Ethology
  • Neuroscience
  • Comparative Psychology

Background:

  • Lateralization of aggressive behaviors, specifically left-eye/right-hemisphere dominance, is documented across tetrapods.
  • Data on eye-use lateralization in aggressive behaviors for teleost fish (bony fish) has been notably absent.
  • Understanding this pattern in fish could reveal conserved or divergent mechanisms of behavioral lateralization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate eye-use lateralization during aggressive interactions in three teleost fish species.
  • To determine if teleost fish exhibit a left-eye dominance similar to tetrapods or a different pattern.
  • To explore potential reasons for any observed differences in lateralization patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed eye preference during mirror-image stimulation (attacking own reflection) in Gambusia holbrooki, Xenotoca eiseni, and Betta splendens.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Confirmed findings by scoring eye preference during aggressive attacks and displays towards live rivals in two species.
  • Quantified lateralization by analyzing which eye was predominantly used during aggressive behavioral contexts.

    • Main Results:

    • All three teleost species (G. holbrooki, X. eiseni, B. splendens) displayed a significant preference for using their right eye.
    • This right-eye preference was consistent whether subjects attacked a mirror image or a live rival.
    • The observed right-eye dominance in fish is opposite to the established left-eye dominance in tetrapods.

    Conclusions:

    • Teleost fish exhibit a right-eye dominance in aggressive behaviors, diverging from the left-eye dominance seen in other vertebrates.
    • This finding suggests a potentially unique evolutionary trajectory for behavioral lateralization in fish.
    • Further research is needed to elucidate the neurobiological and evolutionary underpinnings of this reversed asymmetry.