Poster Session #1: UC South Ballroom

Presentation Type

Poster

Faculty Mentor’s Full Name

Benjamin Eisenreich & Allen Szalda-Petree

Abstract / Artist's Statement

The serotonergic neural pathway is highly involved in arousal, learning, attentional, and memory functions. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Fluoxetine functions as a 5HT antagonist on this pathway, leading so many implications on behavioral and neurological function. While evidence from the greater literature has shown significant evidence that Fluoxetine decreases motoric activity in Siamese fighting fish (Betta Splendens) the behavioral mechanism of Fluoxetine on motoric function is still unknown. Fluoxetine may impair the motoric function in subjects through the secondary effect of decreased dopamine transmission in the motor cortex following increased serotonin synthesis in addition to attentional sedation. Additionally, the decrease in motoric behavior may be a byproduct of inhibited motivational processes. In order to examine the experimental question, the movements of 38 Betta Splendens were recorded and analyzed in their home tanks as a supplementary study to an experiment analyzing the effects of Fluoxetine on aggressive responding. Motor behavior recording consisted of measuring grid line-crossings between experimental and control subjects. Results from the experiment indicated that Fluoxetine administration decreases overall motoric behavior and total distance travelled in subjects. These data allow for further investigation into how motor versus motivational processes may be affected by Fluoxetine to produce these results. Results from this study can be projected into a greater understanding of how Fluoxetine and 5HT affects neural motoric behavior processes.

Category

Life Sciences

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Apr 15th, 11:00 AM Apr 15th, 12:00 PM

Motor Impairments of Fluoxetine Administration in Betta Splendens

The serotonergic neural pathway is highly involved in arousal, learning, attentional, and memory functions. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Fluoxetine functions as a 5HT antagonist on this pathway, leading so many implications on behavioral and neurological function. While evidence from the greater literature has shown significant evidence that Fluoxetine decreases motoric activity in Siamese fighting fish (Betta Splendens) the behavioral mechanism of Fluoxetine on motoric function is still unknown. Fluoxetine may impair the motoric function in subjects through the secondary effect of decreased dopamine transmission in the motor cortex following increased serotonin synthesis in addition to attentional sedation. Additionally, the decrease in motoric behavior may be a byproduct of inhibited motivational processes. In order to examine the experimental question, the movements of 38 Betta Splendens were recorded and analyzed in their home tanks as a supplementary study to an experiment analyzing the effects of Fluoxetine on aggressive responding. Motor behavior recording consisted of measuring grid line-crossings between experimental and control subjects. Results from the experiment indicated that Fluoxetine administration decreases overall motoric behavior and total distance travelled in subjects. These data allow for further investigation into how motor versus motivational processes may be affected by Fluoxetine to produce these results. Results from this study can be projected into a greater understanding of how Fluoxetine and 5HT affects neural motoric behavior processes.