Fish contribute to research on ADHD medication
Leiden University is conducting research into how fish can contribute to the development of new treatments for ADHD and depression. Findings by Christian Tudorache and his team suggest that zebrafish may offer valuable insights, as each of these fish displays its own distinct personality.
Why zebrafish?
Zebrafish are widely used in biomedical scientific research – and for good reason. They are easy to keep, reproduce quickly, and perhaps most intriguingly, each has its own personality. Some zebrafish are more social, aggressive, or risk-prone than others, making them remarkably similar to humans. This behavioural variation makes them particularly well-suited as a research population, as they offer a representative picture of the diversity found within a target group. At Leiden University, for instance, researchers studied how zebrafish behave in familiar environments and how they respond to new situations. Using specially designed tanks divided by a partition, the fish first became accustomed to one side. Later, the partition was partially lifted, giving them access to an unfamiliar part of the tank – a carefully controlled method to observe their behavioural responses to change.
Behaviour
It quickly became apparent during the study that the same fish were consistently the first to explore. These fish were found to be more risk-prone than the others, as they had no way of knowing whether the unfamiliar part of the water contained food or posed a threat. The research showed that the fish that took more risks were also more social, but at the same time more aggressive. The researchers then allowed fish with similar personalities to mate. The results showed that traits such as aggressiveness and anxiety remained consistent – the offspring of an aggressive fish did not suddenly display anxious behaviour or avoid exploration. The conclusion drawn from this was that fish can inherit personality types.
