Device: Active avoidance test (zebrafish)

Objective: This device (Fig. A) is designed to study the active avoidance learning abilities of zebrafish. It consists of a tank divided into two chambers by a central partition raised 1 cm above the tank floor (Fig. B). This partition allows the zebrafish to move between chambers to avoid electric shocks.

The experimental protocol begins with a 10-minute adaptation period under white light. Following adaptation, a green light is presented to the zebrafish, followed by an electric shock after a specified interval. The shock stops when the fish escapes to the adjacent chamber without the green light (Fig. C).

After every 10 trials, the zebrafish undergo a 15-minute quiescent period, with a total of 50 trials conducted per session. Zebrafish that learn to associate the green light with the impending shock will move to the adjacent chamber upon seeing the green light alone, before the shock is delivered. The percentage of trials in which the fish successfully escapes to the adjacent chamber upon the presentation of the green light alone is calculated as the Avoidance rate (%), serving as an index of learning ability.

Reference: Successive and discrete spaced conditioning in active avoidance learning in young and aged zebrafish, Peng Yang, Riki Kajiwara, Ayako Tonoki, Motoyuki Itoh

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168010217305023#sec0010