Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026
06:38
Using a Virtual Reality Walking Simulator to Investigate Pedestrian Behavior
Published on: June 9, 2020
5.2K
An open-source closed-loop Virtual Reality system to investigate social interactions and collective behavior in fish
Stéphane Sanchez1, Ramón Escobedo1,2,3,4, Renaud Bastien1,2
1Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse (IRIT), Université Toulouse Capitole, Toulouse, France.
Plos One
|January 21, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a virtual reality (VR) system to study fish schooling. Real fish successfully followed virtual fish, showing flexibility in adapting speed and position to maintain group cohesion.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Biophysics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Studying collective animal behavior, like fish schooling, is challenging due to complex, rapid interactions.
- Existing methods often lack the precision to control and measure these interactions effectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a low-cost, open-source virtual reality (VR) system for investigating real-time social interactions and collective behaviors in fish.
- To enable precise control and measurement of interactions between real and virtual fish in a closed-loop environment.
Main Methods:
- Developed an immersive VR system with high-speed 3D tracking and real-time visual feedback.
- Integrated automated data processing for realistic and interactive experimental scenarios.
- Utilized rummy-nose tetras (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) to test the system's capabilities.
Main Results:
- Freely moving fish consistently adjusted their speed, depth, and spatial positioning to follow virtual fish.
- Fish demonstrated an ability to match moderate virtual speeds and maintain vertical positioning for group cohesion.
- Behavioral flexibility and constraints were observed, particularly at higher virtual speeds.
Conclusions:
- The VR system provides critical insights into the sensory and cognitive processes driving collective fish movement and decision-making.
- This technology offers a controlled yet realistic platform for studying social interactions across different species.
- Findings advance the understanding of collective animal behavior and its neural underpinnings.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Open and closed-loop control systems
1.6K
Control systems are foundational elements in automation and engineering. They are broadly categorized into open-loop and closed-loop systems. These classifications hinge on the presence or absence of feedback mechanisms, significantly influencing the system's performance, complexity, and application.
An open-loop control system operates without feedback from the output. It consists of two primary elements: the controller and the controlled process. The controller receives an input signal...
An open-loop control system operates without feedback from the output. It consists of two primary elements: the controller and the controlled process. The controller receives an input signal...
1.6K
02:10Social Scripts
10.2K
People tend to know what behavior is expected of them in specific, familiar settings. A script is a person’s knowledge about the sequence of events expected in a specific setting (Schank & Abelson, 1977). Essentially, scripts are a particular kind of schema, one containing default values for the features within an event. In the restaurant example, the script's features include the props (e.g., tables, menu, food, and money), the roles to be played (e.g., customer and waiter),...
10.2K
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
55.5K
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
55.5K
01:27Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
249
Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...
249
01:29Social Psychology and Individual Behavior
284
Social psychology examines how group dynamics, emotions, and cultural influences shape individual actions and decision-making. These elements interact to form behavioral patterns that affect personal choices and social interactions.The Role of Group DynamicsGroups play a crucial role in shaping behavior by reinforcing norms and expectations. Individuals derive a sense of self from group membership, often aligning their behaviors with group norms to maintain social cohesion. For example, an...
284
01:15Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
197
Cognitive processes affect social behavior by guiding how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to social stimuli. These mental processes enable individuals to assess others' behaviors, attribute causes to their actions, and form expectations based on past experiences.Causes of Behavior and Social JudgmentsIndividuals determine the causes of others' behaviors by distinguishing between personal traits and external circumstances. For example, if a friend frequently arrives late, an...
197