Scientists have discovered that psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, can significantly reduce aggressive behavior in mangrove rivulus fish without disrupting their normal social interactions. The research, conducted by Canadian scientists and published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, examined how low doses of psilocybin affect the behavior of these naturally aggressive fish. The study involved placing fish in tanks with a mesh barrier to observe their interactions without physical contact. After establishing baseline behavior, the fish were exposed to psilocybin for 20 minutes before being reintroduced to their tankmates. The results showed that psilocybin-treated fish exhibited fewer aggressive swimming bursts and moved less overall, indicating a reduction in escalated aggression. However, the fish maintained their normal social displays, suggesting that psilocybin selectively targets energetically costly aggressive behaviors rather than suppressing all social interactions. The researchers emphasized that these findings do not imply a treatment for human aggression but could provide insights into how psychedelic compounds influence behavior, potentially informing future therapeutic research. The study also highlighted the unique reproductive abilities of mangrove rivulus fish, which can self-fertilize, making them ideal for experiments with minimal genetic variation. Future research will need to explore the duration of the calming effect, repeated treatments, and whether similar effects occur in other species. The findings contribute to the growing body of research on psilocybin's effects on behavior, with potential implications for understanding the biological mechanisms behind social behavior in both animals and humans.

A groundbreaking study has documented the first-ever footage of a deep-sea fish walking backwards, a behavior previously unrecorded in fish species. Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University and the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory observed three species of armored searobin (Scalicus engyceros, Paraheminodus murrayi, and Peristedion liorhynchus) in their natural habitat in the northern South China Sea using remotely operated and human-occupied vehicles. The armored searobin, commonly referred to as a 'fish-prawn hybrid' due to its unique appearance combining fish-like body with shrimp-like appendages, was filmed using specialized rays extending from its pectoral fins to move along the seafloor. The footage confirmed that these fish can walk not only forwards and sideways but also backwards using their free pectoral-fin rays. The study, published in the journal Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research, provides a rare glimpse into the behavior of a deep-sea animal traditionally studied from preserved specimens. Han Tian, the study's primary author and a doctoral researcher at Sun Yat-sen University, described the findings as 'paradigm-shifting,' noting that Scalicus engyceros is among the few fish species known to walk. The researchers observed that the searobins have distinctive barbels resembling a farmer's rake, which they use to sense and probe potential prey in seafloor sediment. Additionally, the fish's pectoral fins have evolved into flat, round plates that improve balance during walking and swimming, while their shrimp-like fin rays and tail enable explosive, jerky leaps when threatened. The study also noted that despite living in the deep sea, the fish retain some sensitivity to light, as evidenced by one fish rolling its eyes when exposed to an underwater vehicle's light. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about deep-sea fish behavior and provides new insights into the evolutionary adaptations of these unique marine creatures.

According to the ‘incentive salience hypothesis’ reward processing involves two main components, including the motivation to obtain a reward (i.e. incentive salience or ‘wanting’) and the hedonic pleasure felt during its consumption (i.e. hedonic impact ...

Fish don’t chase lures first.They chase oxygen.Warm water holds less oxygen.Still water loses oxygen.After wind, rain, or current—oxygen spikes… and fish reposition fast.If you’re fishing “dead water,” you’re not unlucky.You’re fishing where fish can’t breathe.This is the thinking behind APEX — stop guessing, start reading water like a system.FishingScience #FishBehavior #OxygenLevels #BassFishingTips #AnglerEducationFishWRLD #APEXsystem #WaterConditions #FishSmarter #ModernAnglerPosted by Fish_WRLD

YouTube video by Science Featured

The study highlights the need to integrate research with fisheries management practices to ensure the sustainability of sport fishing.

Social stress raises brain oxidative stress, especially in low-status cichlid fish. High-status fish show better antioxidant defenses.