Avoidance Learning and "Personality" in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

The authors examined the relationships between 2 "personality" dimensions (Approach and Fear Avoidance) and 2-way active avoidance learning performance in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Contrary to expectations (based on prior rodent studies), higher fearfulness facilitated both earlier appearance and acquisition of the shuttlebox avoidance responses, especially in the less exploratory and active fish. However, the overall maximum level of performance was not much affected by the 2 personality dimensions studied. Thus, the results emphasized the species-specific and interactional effect of fearfulness on the 2-way avoidance learning performance.