Telencephalic ablation results in decreased startle response in goldfish

Our investigation concerns the connection between the telencephalon and the startle response, mediated by reticulospinal neurons. Before surgery fish respond to the startle stimulus in 95% of the trials and 66% of the time with complete full turns. Following telencephalon removal fish respond in only 50% of the trials but make complete full turns only 7% of the time. There is no significant change found in control fish. This suggests a modulatory role of the telencephalon in regards to startle behavior.