Elcoro, M., da Silva, S.P. & Lattal, K.A. (2008).
Visual reinforcement in the female Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 90, 53-60.
Operant conditioning with Betta splendens (Bettas) has been investigated extensively using males of
the species. Ethological studies of female Bettas have revealed aggressive interactions that qualitatively
parallel those between male Bettas. Given these similarities, four experiments were conducted with female
Bettas to examine the generality of a widely reported finding with males: mirror-image reinforcement.
Swimming through a ring was reinforced by a 10Šs mirror presentation. As with males, ring swimming was
acquired and maintained when mirror presentations were immediate (Experiments 1, 2, and 3) and
delayed (Experiment 4). The failure of conventional extinction (Experiments 1 and 2) and
response-independent mirror presentations (Experiment 3) to maintain responding confirmed the
reinforcing properties of mirror presentation. These results extend previous findings of mirror images as
reinforcers in males of the same species and illustrate a complementarity between behavioral ecology and
the experimental analysis of behavior.
Key words: mirror-image reinforcement, extinction, response-independent mirror
presentation, aggression, ring swimming, female Betta splendens