Whenever my friends and I forget something important, we joke about it by saying, “Oh you know me, I have a memory of a goldfish – 3 seconds, and then I am out.” This very excuse works like a metaphor and playfully hints at our forgetfulness, but actually has questionable credibility. Contrary to this popular belief, goldfish have much better memories than we give them credit for. Goldfish are good at remembering things for months and have impressive learning and problem-solving skills.
Where Did the 3-Second Myth Come From?
The idea of ‘three-second memory’ stems from the absence of hippocampus in the fish brain. The hippocampus is the area in the brain responsible for memory and learning. The misunderstanding of goldfish swimming behaviour in a tank in a constant loop – revisiting the same spots over and over again without apparent awareness also added fuel to the fire. It reinforced the notion that goldfish do not have a good memory. However, it’s the small scale of the tank that made the goldfish swimming repetitive and led us to forge this notion. But from the perspective of a goldfish, the water tank can seem like a very large body of water filled with a variety of objects and places to explore. The repeated visiting of the same spots in a goldfish’s swimming pattern is a remarkable navigation, considering the various objects and places in the tank. Goldfish possess telencephalon, a part of their brain equivalent to hippocampus in mammals. Hence, they can remember the surroundings of a tank for a longer term than initially thought, resulting in their constant swimming pattern. In reality, their memory abilities are closer to those of animals that we typically think of as more intelligent.
The Memory of Goldfish
Research has shown that goldfish can remember and respond to sounds months after their training. In an experiment, scientists trained goldfish to respond to particular sounds by associating them with food. Goldfish are also capable of learning how to navigate through mazes by recognising patterns, distinguishing between colours and shapes, and estimating distance. These learning abilities suggest their long-term level of memory retention that is certainly beyond the famous three seconds.
It is worth noting that the goldfish memory is not restricted to sounds and objects. They can certainly remember behaviours and routines as well. Goldfish associate people getting close to the tank to the feeding time and gather in a particular spot in the tank when feeding time is near. They can also develop social interaction and identify individual tank mates. Changes in their environments do not seem to deter them. They can recall their surroundings even after being temporarily removed and returned to their tanks, where they reacquaint themselves quickly.
Goldfish Memory In The Context of Animal Intelligence
The myth of goldfish having a three-second memory highlights our tendency to underestimate animal intelligence. We have a habit of associating the simple appearance of organisms around us with low intelligence. Fish may seem simple at first glance but they exhibit complex behaviours and learning abilities once studied and observed in detail.
To simply put, this myth became popular when we judged the behaviour of goldfish from our point of view. On closer inspection, it became clear that where we saw limitations, goldfish saw patterns and successfully navigated their small habitat, exploring unfamiliar surroundings. By understanding animals better, we can improve their quality of life and appreciate their vast range of intellectual capabilities. So, the next time you forget something, give the pretty goldfish some credit for their amazing memory. Don’t drag them with you – own up to your own memory loss and maybe snack on some almonds and walnuts!
Deeksha, is a Biochemist and an aspiring neuroscientist. Her research interest lies at the intersection of molecular neuroscience and drug discovery.
