Ashna Moogi 08-03-Min

Extended Essay
Research Question:
How does varying the genre of Music affect the swimming and feeding patterns of Gold
Fish (Carrasius auratus)?
Subject: Biology
Word Count: 3897

Acknowledgements:
I would like to express my gratitude to the following people for helping and inspiring me
with my extended essay. I would like to thank Ms.Aparna, my extended essay supervisor, and
my mom for supporting me throughout this research. My experiment would not have been
possible without their constant support and insights. These are the people who helped make
my research enjoyable and made it surpass just an essay.
Disclaimer:
The fish used in this experiment were handled with utmost care. The experiment spanned
over a duration of 40 days, with fish that were of similar age. Precautions were taken to
ensure their wellbeing and no fish were affected negatively through this experiment. There
were no injuries, casualties, psychological or physical stress that were suffered in relation to
them. The fish were well nourished and nurtured and instructions were taken from the vet in
routine. They were transported from the fish tank to the bowl with cautions. Their tank and
filter were cleaned every 15 days, and the water was changed every 20 days, adhering to the
recommendations by the vet. The noise levels were maintained within the tolerance level of
the fish specie, 90 dB.
II

Abstract:
Carrasius auratus (Gold Fish) (Linnaeus, 1758) are popular pets in households as they have a
long life span and are low maintenance. According to a study by Purdue University, watching
Goldfish can improve an individual’s appetite1. They are also known to reduce anxiety and
lower blood pressure. Goldfish are proved to react to sound vibrations such as footsteps,
voices, music, just like other species of Fish (Kreidl, 1995). They also follow monoaminergic
distribution, enabling their behaviour to be compared to the behaviour of other mammals that
follow the same type of distribution. Considering the following factors, I decided to design an
experiment: How does varying the genre of Music affect the swimming and feeding
patterns of Goldfish (Carrasius auratus)?
The fish were exposed to four varied genres: Jazz, Rock, Country and Indian Classical. The
music was played for a total of 10 mins each, at a controlled volume of 90 dB each time.
Using Video Cameras, observations were made on the behaviour of the fish before and after
feeding. The procedure was repeated on an individual fish in a fishbowl as a control, and to
observe the independent behaviour of the fish.
There was a great contrast in the feeding patterns of the fish in the music genres Rock and
Country. A delayed response to food was seen in Rock, whereas the food was consumed
quickly in the Country Music. Their cognitive behaviour presented an interesting observation
in this research. When Rock music was played, the speed of the Fish increased in comparison
to the control, perhaps as the fish felt threatened by the loud, sudden noises, hence, showing
defensive behaviours such as hiding. However, contrasting behaviour was observed in
country music where the fish swam around the same speed as the control.
Word Count: 294

1
Susan Gaidos, Aquariums may pacify Alzheimer's patients, 1999 [Online]
III

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… 01
1.1 Background Information………………………………………………. 01
1.2 Hypothesis……………………………………………………………... 02
1.3 Variables………………………………………………………………. 03
2. Methodology……………………………………………………………….................. 06
2.1 Materials……………………………………………………………….. 06
2.2 Procedure…………………………………………………………….... 07
3. Data Collection and Results………………………………………………................... 10
3.1 Observation of Experimental Data- Swimming and Feeding Patterns... 10
3.2 Observation of Control- Speed and Behaviour………………………... 15
4. Evaluation…………………………………………………………………….............. 19
5. Conclusion………………………………………………………….………………… 22
6. Limitations…………………………………………………………………................. 24
7. Extension/Holistic Judgement………………………………………………............... 24
8. Works Cited………………………………………………………………...………… 25
9. Appendix……………………………………………………………………………… 28
IV

1. Introduction
Gold Fish belong to the Carp Family and are often used to decorate places such as restaurants
and are even kept as pets. One day, while watching television at my friend’s house I noticed
that her fishes started acting restless, swimming to sides. Startled by their behaviour, I
enquired and found out that every time they switched on the television, the fishes would react
differently. Being a dog owner myself, I had noticed that my dog was able to differentiate
between the different kinds of music and even avoided a few frequencies. It is also a known
fact that infants sway to certain kinds of music. Intrigued by the unusual behaviour, I further
went on to read the research paper “Reinforcing and Discriminative Stimulus Properties of
Music in Goldfish”2. It then occurred to me that Goldfish can discriminate between the
different sounds of music, making me wonder whether there would be a change in their
behaviour if they were exposed to different genres of music. Hence, I devised an experiment
that would deduce the intensity of the effect that different genres of music would have on the
cognitive behaviour of the Goldfish. As they have monoamingeric distribution3, studying the
changes in their behaviour is possible because it can be compared to that of mammals.
1.1 Background Information
When undomesticated, they prefer murky environment thriving in fresh water bodies4. They
have a preference for dark environments as a form of self-defence as they often fall prey due
to their reflecting scales5. Thus, Carrasius auratus are benthic swimmers and hence, are
bottom feeders6.These are active fish, swim fairly fast, and also thrive in a troubling. Goldfish
contain chromatophore cells in their bodies which produce the pigment that gives them their
color and also reflects light7. These fish show borrowing mechanisms of feeding behaviour as

2
Behavioural processes, 2013, Reinforcing and Discriminative Stimulus Properties of Music in Goldfish [Online]
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241696857_Reinforcing_and_Discriminative_Stimulus_Properties_
of_Music_in_Goldfish
th
[Accessed 11 November 2016]
3
Jr, A. G., 2005. Academia. [Online]
http://www.academia.edu/207396/Preference_of_Goldfish_Carassius_auratus_for_Dark_Places
th
[Accessed 4 Januray 2017]
4
Street, R., n.d. Biokids inquiry of Diverse Species. [Online]
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Carassius_auratus/
th
5
http://www.academia.edu/207396/Preference_of_Goldfish_Carassius_auratus_for_Dark_Places
th
6
Sonia Duarte, C. A. L. R. J. O. a. R. F., 2006. Swimming Behaviour patterns of Carassius auratus and Solea senegalensis at
different velocities, p.267
7
Anon., 2007. A New World Encyclopedia. [Online]
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Goldfish
they have pharyngeal teeth8 (shown below). These enable them to feed on as much food as
they are fed and thus, majority of their deaths are caused due to overfeeding. Most freshwater
aquarium fish are tropical, but goldfish are coldwater fish, preferring a tank kept between
18°- 22° C.
Image 1: This image depicts the teeth present in the digestive tract of the goldfish9
Research Question:
How does varying the genre of Music affect the swimming and feeding patterns of Goldfish
(Carrasius auratus)?
1.2 Hypothesis
A pronounced change in the swimming speed and the feeding pattern is expected as the genre
of music is varied. According to a study on the Reinforcing and Discriminative Stimulus
Properties of Music in Goldfish10, Goldfish have developed more complex inner ears and are
even capable of distinguishing between the voices of two different human beings, and also
sense vibrations, water currents, pressures and motion. As sound vibrations in water travel
five times faster than sound in air, Goldfish have more complex internal ears than humans.
Each genre of music causes different number of vibrations. In this experiment, Rock Music
will cause the most vibrations per second and Country Music will cause the least. The
Goldfish receives sound vibrations through its swim bladder and weberian ossicles which

th
8
KAAN, J. A. M. a. H. W., 1940. The Digestive tract of Carrasius auratus. MBL-The Biological Bulletin, Volume 78, pp. 53-67
9
Image taken from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/44807278_fig1_Figure-1-Localization-of-the-fifth-
ceratobranchial-in-the-goldfish-Carassius-auratus
10
Behavioural processes, 2013, Reinforcing and Discriminative Stimulus Properties of Music in Goldfish[Online]
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241696857_Reinforcing_and_Discriminative_Stimulus_Properties_
of_Music_in_Goldfish
th
[Accessed 11 November 2016]
then enters the internal ears. A Goldfish can hear from 20 to 3,200 Hz. This is the reason why
I chose Goldfish for this experiment.
Another study “Noise-induced stress response and hearing loss in goldfish11” proves that a
spike in plasma cortisol can be observed in Goldfish within 10 minutes of exposure to noise.
Since, cortisol is responsible for stress, it increases the heart rate of the Goldfish. So more the
exposure to music, higher the heart rate will be and eventually the increase in metabolism
will cause the fish to feed in greater amounts.
Hₒ: The Null Hypothesis would therefore be that there was no significant change in the
feeding or swimming pattern of the fish.
1.3 Variables
Independent Variable:
The independent variables were the different genres of Music. The genres were varied by
exposing the fish to 4 different melodies Jazz, Rock, Country and Indian Classical for a total
of 10 mins each. The music was played on a constant volume of 90 dB each time.
Dependent Variable:
The dependent variables were the feeding patterns and the swimming speed of Goldfish. This
will be analysed by documenting their behaviour with the help of a video camera.
Controlled Variables:
Constant Variable Why it was kept How it was kept

Constant? constant?
1. The Goldfish The species and the age of The fish were bought
the Goldfish were kept from the same shop and
constant to ensure an assurance was taken
accuracy in data regarding the age of 9
collection. Using fish of months.

11
Noise-induced stress response and hearing loss in goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Department of Biology and Center for Comparative and Evolutionary Biology of Hearing, University of
Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. [Online]
http://jeb.biologists.org/content/jexbio/207/3/427.full.pdf
th
[Accessed 10 January 2017]

varying ages or using

different species would
have resulted in altered
behaviour.
2. Distance between Varying distance would Distance of 30 cm was
Speakers and Fish lead to varying intensity maintained throughout
Bowl of the music and hence, the experiment using a
difference in behaviour. measuring tape.
3. Volume of the Music The Volume was kept A volume of 90 dB was
constant to regulate the maintained throughout.
intensity of the Music as
fluctuating volume would
lead to varying behaviour.
4. Temperature The Goldfish suffer from A temperature of 22˚C
diseases eg: Fin rot, if the was maintained by
temperatures are inserting a glass pipe
unsuitable. Lower heater.
metabolism in Fish is also
observed in Higher
Temperatures12.
5. Position of Video Using different positions The angles of the cameras
Cameras would result in inaccurate were kept at 135˚ and 10
readings of speed. cm away, using a
protractor and ruler.
6. Duration of each trial Exposing the Goldfish to Each trial was restricted
music for prolonged time to a duration of 10
could cause harm to the minutes using a
fish. Hence, a timed stopwatch.
record is used to calculate
their rate of consumption

12
J.S.Hart, F. F. a.,1948. The relation of temperature to oxygen consumption in the Goldfish. MBL The
Biological Bulletin, Volume 94, pp.66-77
and speed.
7. Type of food Goldfish can react The type of food was
differently to different restricted to Aini Gold
kinds of food.
8. Amount of fish food Feeding too much or too Amount of Fish food was
fed less could harm the kept constant at 12 grains
Goldfish. for the tank and 3 grains
for the control.
9. Time fed It is important to feed the The fish were each fed 5
Goldfish at constant times minutes after being
to ensure accuracy of introduced to music.
results. Food had to be
introduced at a time that
they were the hungriest to
measure appropriate
behaviour.
10. Time of the conduct The experiment would be The experiment was
of experiment conducted at 8 pm, when conducted in a closed
the environment is room to ensure relative
relatively quieter to ensure silence. The time of
no prominent disturbances active behaviour was
and that is also observed noted by observation and
as a time when the fish are video camera shots.
most active, to ensure
reliability in results.
Uncontrolled Variables:
1. The exact age and species of the fish could not be controlled. However, as per the claim
of the seller, they were all of approximately 9 months and of the same specie.
2. There is no way to control the individual feeding capacity of the fish. Hence, neither
could the growth of the fish be controlled.
3. The individual reaction of the fish to the different genres of music and the food cannot be
controlled.
These uncontrolled variables could have affected the results of the experiment. To ensure that
time estimates, music played and equipments used were suitable, a pre-lab was conducted.
2. Methodology:
The fish tank was a 3 by 2 feet rectangle and 18 litres of water was used. It was designed to
replicate the natural habitat with artificial plants, sand and pebbles. The tank was cleaned
frequently to avoid infections and bacterial growth.
The method used for this experiment was designed to suit the procedure with the help of my
supervisor.
2.1 Materials:
1. 4 Goldfish
2. Fish Tank (18 litres)
3. Fish Bowl (6 litres)
4. 10 minute Sound tracks of Jazz, Rock, Country and Indian Classical
5. Speakers- Altec Lansing Multimedia Computer Speaker System
6. Fish Food: Aini Gold
7. Digital Timer
8. 2 Video Cameras
9. 2 tripod stands
10. Measuring tape
11. Ruler
12. Protractor
13. Fish Net
14. Measuring Cylinder-500ml (± 0.1 ml)
2.2 Procedure:
For group (Experimental):
1. Place the tripods on either sides of the fish tank and attach the cameras to the stands.
2. Switch the video cameras and the timer on.
3. Introduce the food 5 minutes after the experiment has begun.
4. Observe their reactions to fish food when introduced and the rate at which each fish
swims.
5. After 10 mins stop the cameras and the timer.
6. Record the behaviour in terms of movement that you observed using the footage of
the cameras.
7. Follow the above procedure for a duration of 5 days.
8. Repeat steps 1-7 with sound tracks of Jazz, Rock, Country and Indian Classical; except
in step 2, along with the timer, switch on the speakers and play the respective genre of
music.
9. Take a break of 2 days after each set of 5 days to reduce the stress levels of the
Goldfish.
For an Individual Fish (Control):
1. Fill 4 litres of water in the fish bowl using the Measuring cylinder.
2. Place one goldfish into the fish bowl using a fish net.
3. Place a speaker at a distance of 30 cm to the fish bowl.
4. Place a Video Camera near the fish bowl.
5. Switch the timer and the Video Camera on.
6. Make observations on the rotations made by the fish.
7. After 5 minutes into the experiment, introduce food.
8. Stop the video camera and the timer, after 10 minutes.
9. Note the behaviour using the footage that you recorded.
10. Continue the procedure for a duration of five days.
11. Do not expose the fish to any music on days six and seven to reduce its stress levels.
12. Repeat steps 1-11 with the different genres of music: Jazz, Rock, Country, and Indian
Classical; except in step 5, along with the timer, switch on the speakers and play the
respective genre of music.
All experimentation will take place at night to avoid as much noise as possible, so that the
majority of sound to which the fish is exposed is that of the music. The same fish will be
used for every trial to ensure accuracy.
Measuring the speed of the Goldfish, and the swimming and feeding patterns:
The fish were transferred to a fishbowl to measure the speed at which they swim for every
genre of music. The fish were given 10 minutes to acclimatize to the bowl before every
trial and measurements were taken only after that.
To form a point of reference for accurate observations, a rock was positioned in the
midpoint of the fish bowl.
1. A string was used to measure the interior circumference of the bowl.
Image 2: This image shows the bird’s eye view of the fish bowl with the point of reference
2. Calculate the radius using the formula:

𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 2𝜋𝑟
Where r is the radius of the bowl
3. To calculate the approximate distance covered by the fish, view the footage closely.
4. Every time the fish goes to the rock, the radius will be taken as the distance and every
time the fish goes around the rock, the circumference will be taken.
5. Use the following formula to calculate the speed of the fish:

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
6. Compare the average speed of each fish for all the genres of music. The genre with
the highest speed could mean that the fish is more active on exposure to that and
perhaps sensed danger or attempted escape. The genre with the least speed could
mean that the music has minimal effects on the fish and it does not sense any danger.
The following criteria should be observed to measure the swimming patterns of the fish in the
fish tank:
1. During what genre of music do the fish swim in troublings and during what genre do
the fish hide.
2. Do the fish swim in circles and take many turns or do they swim in straight lines.
3. Do they fish maintain a certain pace of swimming or are their movements abrupt
4. How often do the fish interact with each other.
The average amount of time taken by an individual fish to consume the entire fish food can
be calculated to analyse the feeding patterns on exposure to the genres of music. The time
taken for the troubling of fish to consume the same amount of food can be calculated too.
3. Data Collection and results:

3.1 Observation of Experimental Data-Feeding Swimming Patterns:
Normal Behaviour:
The behaviour of the Goldfish at 8:00 pm everyday was almost constant. The fish would
make several trips to the surface of the tank from the bottom to feed on the bubbles produced
by the oxygen filter. The fish usually swam from one end to another in a continuous way,
occasionally altering their directions. All the fish would consume food in about 3 minutes.
This was similar for all five trials that were undertaken.
Image 3.1: This image shows the normal behaviour of the fish and their trips to the surface
of the water to feed on the bubbles.
10

Behaviour in Rock Music:
When exposed to Rock music, there was a spontaneous reaction by the fish. The swimming
pattern differed significantly from the control. The fish were mostly near the bottom of the
tank. They tried to lay low among the pebbles and hide behind the ornamental plants.
Occasionally one would hide behind the leaves and the other would stay out, and they would
alternate. Often, when the beats became slower and softer, the fish would swim up, but as
soon as the beats became louder, they would go back down. The fish were reluctant to swim
up to the surface even when the food was introduced. They took an average of 8 minutes to
feed, which was 5 minutes longer than the control. After being fed, they started swimming
restlessly and colliding with the glasses on the edge of the fish tank. They rarely swam alone.
The behaviour was similar for all the five trials.
Image 3.2: This image shows the hiding behaviour of the fish under rock music.
11

Behaviour in Country Music:
When exposed to Country Music the fish were more relaxed compared to the Rock Music.
However, it was observed that there seemed to be no significant change in their feeding
pattern in relation to the control. They still took an average of 3 minutes to consume the food.
The fish were seen to swim at the mid and high levels of water. The fish were often seen to
be swimming in troublings around the ornamental plant. Through all the five trials, there was
a repetitive behaviour. Except on day four, where they were swimming near the surface of the
water and hence, they took 1 minute less to consume the feed. The swimming pattern was
continuous and they barely made any abrupt turns.
Image 3.3: This image shows the fish near the surface on day 4 under country music.
12

Behaviour in Jazz Music:
When exposed to Jazz Music the fish’s behaviour resembled that of during Country Music or
even the control, as they weren’t necessarily hiding behind the ornamental plants. The
swimming pattern was a mix of random waves and circles. The fish were not still, but were
also not making any abrupt turns. The fish were seen to be swimming together. However, one
fish seemed to be more active than the others and would occasionally nudge them. In this
case, the feeding lasted around 5 minutes which was in between the time for Country and
Rock music. The consistency of their behaviour through the five trials was low.
Image 3.4: This image shows the fish swimming together under jazz music.
13

Behaviour in Indian Classical:
When exposed to Indian Classical Music the fish’s behaviour resembled that of during Jazz
Music, but slightly more aggressive. The fish spent most of their time swimming in the
corners, consistently in groups. A few abrupt turns were taken when the sudden highs were
observed in the music. One fish constantly swam near the bottom of the tank whereas the
others had no preference. It took on an average 6 minutes for all the fish to consume their
food, slightly longer than the time took when Jazz music was played.
Image 3.5: This image shows the fish swimming in corners under Indian Classical Music.
14

Graph 1: Genre of Music Vs Time taken to Feed
Genre of Music Vs Time taken to Feed

9
Time taken to consume the food (min)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Normal Rock Country Jazz Indian Classical
Genre of Music
It can be seen from this graph that the Fish took the longest to consume food on exposure to
Rock Music, and the least on exposure to Country.
3.2 Observation of Control- Behaviour and Speed:
Measuring the radius of the fishbowl:
It is required to calculate the radius to deduce the distance covered by the fish. The distance
covered is then used to calculate the speed of the fish. A ruler and a string were used to
measure the circumference of the fish bowl and it was 71 cm (0.71 m)
Using the formula:
𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 2𝜋𝑟
71=2𝜋r
r= 71/2𝜋
r=11.3 cm (0.113)
The radius derived is an average as the largest area of the bowl was used for the
circumference. The radius of the base of the fish bowl to get accurate values for speed was
15

also calculated. It was 5.65 cm. Since 10 minutes was the duration and the speed is measured
in metres per second, the denominator will be kept constant at 600s.
Sample Calculations for Rock music:
Large
Circumference
Height
Point of Reference
Base
Image 4: Parts of the Fish Bowl
The measurements of the labelled parts of the Fishbowl for the Control are given in the
distance column in the Data Table 1. The frequency states the number of times that distance
was travelled.
Data Table 1: Calculation for total distance travelled by Fish during Rock Music
Parts of the Distance (cm)=x Frequency=f f(x)

Fishbowl
Large Radius 11.3 5 056.5
Half Large Round 35.5 8 284.0
Full Large Round 71.0 13 923.0
Base Radius 5.60 6 033.6
Half Base Round 17.7 7 123.9
Full Base Round 35.5 8 284.0
Height 13.5 5 67.5
Sum f(x): 1772.5
16

Distance travelled by fish in the Full Large Round=f(x)
=71x13
=923 cm
Total Distance=56.5+284+923+33.6+123.9+284+67.5
=1772.5 cm
Speed= Distance/Time
=1772.5/600
=2.95 cm/s
Cm to m= 2.954/100
=0.0295 m/s
Average Speed=0.0295+0.0293+0.0294+0.0292+0.0290
=0.0293 m/s
Data Table 2: Individual Fish Speed
Genre of Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5
Music
Normal 0.0250 m/s 0.0251 m/s 0.0255 m/s 0.0250 m/s 0.0252 m/s
Rock 0.0295 m/s 0.0293 m/s 0.0294 m/s 0.0292 m/s 0.0290 m/s
Country 0.0258 m/s 0.0253 m/s 0.0256 m/s 0.0255 m/s 0.0259 m/s
Jazz 0.0280 m/s 0.0274 m/s 0.0277 m/s 0.0279 m/s 0.0276 m/s
Indian Classical 0.0289 m/s 0.0284 m/s 0.0288 m/s 0.0285 m/s 0.0287 m/s
17

Graph 2: Individual Fish Speed for each Genre of Music per trial
Individual Fish Speed for each Genre of Music

per trial
0.03
0.029
Speed of Fish (m/s)
0.028 Normal
0.027 Rock
0.026 Country
0.025 Jazz
0.024 Indian Classical

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5
Trials
This graph clearly depicts how the speed of the Fish was the highest in Rock Music compared
to the least speed in Country, which was also close to the normal speed. During trial 3, the
speed of the fish in country music was the same as their normal speed.
Processed Data Table 2.1: Average speeds of Fish in each Trial
Genre of Music Average Speed
(m/sec)
Normal 0.0252 m/s
Rock 0.0293 m/s
Country 0.0256 m/s
Jazz 0.0277 m/s
Indian Classical 0.0287 m/s
18

Graph 2.1: Average Speed Vs Genre of Music
Speed Vs Genre of Music

0.03
0.029
Average Speed of Fish (m/sec)
0.028
0.027
0.026
0.025 Average Speed (m/sec)

0.024
0.023
0.022
Normal Rock Country Jazz Indian
Classical
Genre of Music
4. Evaluation:
A One-Way Anova test was used to see if there was a statistically significant variation in the
means and also to analyse the variance of the speed of fish on exposure to the genres of
music. The results were verified using on One way ANOVA test application, StatPlus LE.
Calculations:
Formula for ANOVA13:
;=> (𝑥
− 𝑥; )²
𝑀𝑆𝑆7 =
𝑛−𝑘
;=> 𝑛; (𝑥;
− 𝑥> )²
𝑀𝑆𝑆@ =
𝑘−1
𝑀𝑆𝑆@
𝐹=
𝑀𝑆𝑆7
𝑑𝑓@ = 𝑘 − 1

13
Formula and Method borrowed from: Eugene O'Loughlin, 2015, How To... Perform a One-Way ANOVA
Test (By Hand) [Online]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUjsSB7E-ko
nd
[Accessed 2 February 2017]
19

𝑑𝑓C = 𝑛 − 𝑘
Where:
𝑀𝑆𝑆7 = Mean sum of squares within groups
𝑀𝑆𝑆@ = Mean sum of squares between groups
F=F statistical value
g=All values within the group
G=Total number of groups
X= Each Value (Speed of Fish)
𝑥; =Mean of each group
n= Total number of variables
k= Total number of groups
𝑛; =Number in each group
𝑥> =Overall mean of all groups
df= Degree of Freedom
0.0280 + 0.0274 + 0.0277 + 0.0279 + 0.0276

𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛: 𝐽𝑎𝑧𝑧 = 𝑥 =
5
= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟕𝟕
𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠: 𝐽𝑎𝑧𝑧

V
= 0.0280 − 0.0277 + (0.0274 − 0.0277)V + (0.0277 − 0.0277)V
+ (0.0279 − 0.0277)V + (0.0276 − 0.0277)V
= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟑
𝑆𝑆7 = 0.00000018 + 0.0000002 + 0.00000023 + 0.00000023 + 0.00000018
= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟏
20

0.000001
𝑀𝑆𝑆7 = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟓
25 − 5
V V V
𝑆𝑆@ = 5 0.0252 − 0.0273 + 5 0.0293 − 0.0273 + 5 0.0256 − 0.0273
V V
+ 5 0.0277 − 0.0273 + 5 0.0287 − 0.0273 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟕𝟏𝟑𝟖
0.000067138
𝑀𝑆𝑆@ = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟔𝟕𝟖𝟓
5−1
0.0000167845
∴𝐹= = 𝟑𝟑𝟓. 𝟔𝟗
0.00000005
Using the df of 4 and 20, the f distribution table for significance level 0.0514 was checked for
the F critical value. The F critical value was found as 2.8661.
F statistical value (335.69) > F critical value (2.8661)
∴ Null Hypothesis rejected
Image 5.1: Data inserted on Statplus LE for One-Way Anova Test
Image 5.2: Results of One-Way Anova Test
The degrees of freedom (df) for between the groups is 4 as the total number of groups are 5
(5-1=4). The F statistical value is 335.6920, which is way above the F critical value of

14
Appendix
21

2.8661. The F statistical value tends to be larger if the alternative hypothesis is true, and
hence the null hypothesis can be rejected. The p-level 0.0000, being less than the specified
significance level of 0.05, gives another significant value to reject the null. The results of the
one-way anova test confirm that the variance cannot be explained as a result of chance.
Hence, proving that the data collected was through intensive experimentation and sampling.
Thus, it can be proved that exposure to different genres of music varies the speed of the fish,
affecting their feeding and cognitive behaviour.
5. Conclusion
After analysing the data collected and assessing the observations, it was proved that the
results were close to the hypothesis. Exposure to different genres of music expressed an array
of innate behaviour of the fish, as they preferred Country music to Jazz, Rock or even Indian
Classical, showing that they felt threatened by these genres. There was a strong reaction to
Rock music as the fish expressed unnatural behaviour such as delayed reaction to food and
hiding behind ornamental plants. A study conducted by Leiden University15 showed that
difference in sound levels affects swimming height, swimming speed and group cohesion in
Zebrafish. This study can be generalised to all fish, confirming the behaviour of the goldfish
in response to the different genres of music in this experiment. The increase in group-
cohesion on exposure to Rock Music can be attributed to anxiety-indicating response in
respect to potential danger (Gerlai, 2008).
As mentioned earlier, a study on “Noise-induced stress response and hearing loss in

goldfish16” states that the levels of cortisol increase in the fish once they are exposed to music
for more than 10 minutes. Cortisol being a hormone responsible for stress, is responsible for
the increased heart rates of the fish. It was concluded that the increased rate of respiration
allowed the fish to increase speed or rate at which they swam as a form of defensive
behaviour due to the loud and fast music such as Rock and Indian Classical. The increase in

15
Behavioral Biology, Institute of Biology (IBL), Leiden University, 2014, Behavioral changes in response to
sound exposure and no spatial avoidance of noisy conditions in captive zebrafish [Online]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330796/
nd
[22 February 2017]
16
Department of Biology and Center for Comparative and Evolutionary Biology of Hearing, University of
Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. [Online]
[Accessed 10th January 2017]
22

swimming speed and hyperactivity can be due to perceived predation risk (Eaton et al.,
1977).
One interesting observation that was made was that the average rate at which the fish swam
in Country music was actually similar to their average normal speed in certain trials. This was
not only close to the fish’s innate behaviour but it can also indicate that the fish preferred
Country music to the sounds of their normal environment. However, this cannot be affirmed
till further trials are carried out for extended durations.
The data concerning the swimming speed of Goldfish shows that they swam the fastest on
exposure to Rock music and the slowest in Country music. The speed in Jazz was slightly
slower than that in Indian Classical, which was in turn marginally slower than that in Rock.
After analysing the data collected and the results of the One-Way Anova test, it can be
concluded that different genres of music do affect the swimming and feeding behaviour of the
Goldfish. Through the data, it can be deduced that Country music has the least effect on fish
activity as the excitation is the least, whereas, Rock, Jazz and Indian Classical have a
comparatively greater effect as the levels of excitation are very high.
A study conducted by Chemnitz University of Technology17 on the psychological functions

of music listening, depicts how human listen to music to achieve self-awareness and to
regulate mood and arousal. Another study by National Neurological Institute C18, says that
background Music tends to improve performance of cognitive tasks tapping declarative
memory and processing speed in older adults. These studies support the claim that Music has
an overall positive affect on Humans. However, music doesn’t always affect fish positively.
The experiment conducted demonstrates how certain genres of music increase the speed of
the fish, change their group cohesions and also impact their swimming patterns. A reason for
this could be the increased production of cortisol in fish, increasing their heart rates.

17
Department of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, 2013, The psychological functions of music
listening [Online]
[Accessed 23rd February 2017]
18
Brain Connectivity Center, National Neurological Institute C, 2014, The cognitive effects of listening to
background music on older adults [Online]
23

A scope for improvement for this experiment would be to take into account more trials. Only
5 trials were conducted in this experiment and hence, it can be tough to generalise these
results. Another factor to enhance the reliability of these results would be to take into account
different age groups of fishes.
Limitations:
1. Only one species of goldfish were used, limiting the results to be generalised to the entire
goldfish family.
2. The water temperature between the fish tank and fish bowl could not be kept constant.
3. It was difficult to measure their feeding patterns due to their varying sizes. They could
also only be fed twice a day and 3 grains each, as overfeeding can lead to their death.
4. The problem faced while gathering the data to calculate the speed of Goldfish was that
they were moving in varied directions when pushing against the glass of the fishbowl.
This will affect the results as all the distance travelled by the fish won’t be considered as
only half and full rounds around the pebble were counted, to avoid confusion.
5. The results observed were for a span of 40 days. So, the behaviour can only be assumed
to be the same for the rest of the days.
6. Not all fish react the same way to Music, some may have higher tolerance capacities.
These are all factors that could have affected the results of this experiment.
6. Extension/ Holistic Judgement

I made an observation through this experiment that the cameras would cause the fish to shy
away. This nudged me to contemplate whether my presence would impact their behaviour
and change the outcome of my research. As they associated my presence with food, it could
be possible that the fish observing my presence would assume they will be fed. Another
observation was that Fish are commonly kept in bars, a place were music is played
continuously. This could perhaps condition the fish to the music or even cause them to
behave differently. A comparison between the behaviour of fishes kept in homes and fishes
kept in bars when exposed to music, could be analysed. The negative effect on fish of
constantly being exposed to music, if any, can be studied. This could be a scope for further
research.
7. Works Cited:
24

Aaron Katcher, Herman Segal D.D.S. & Alan Beck, 2011, Comparison of Contemplation and
Hypnosis for the Reduction of Anxiety and Discomfort during Dental Surgery [Online]
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00029157.1984.10402583
[Accessed 12th November 2016]
Animal Learning & Behaviour, AVA R. CHASE , 2001, Music discriminations by carp
(Cyprinus carpio) [Online]
http://www.picovolt.com/ava/fish/music-carp.pdf
Anon., 2007. A New World Encyclopedia. [Online]

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Goldfish
Behavioral Biology, Institute of Biology (IBL), Leiden University, 2014, Behavioral changes
in response to sound exposure and no spatial avoidance of noisy conditions in captive
zebrafish [Online]
[22nd February 2017]
Behavioural processes, 2013, Reinforcing and Discriminative Stimulus Properties of Music in

Goldfish [Online]
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241696857_Reinforcing_and_Discriminative_Stim
ulus_Properties_of_Music_in_Goldfish
Brain Connectivity Center, National Neurological Institute C, 2014, The cognitive effects of
listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music,
while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music [Online]
Christina Crowe, Goldfish Care Benefits: 8 Reasons Why Goldfish Are Good Pets [Online]
http://completegoldfishcare.com/goldfish-tank/why-goldfish/
Clarice Brough, Common Goldfish [Online]

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/goldfish/CommonGoldfish.php
Daven Hiskey, 2010, GOLDFISH DO NOT HAVE A THREE SECOND MEMORY

[Online]
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/10/goldfish-do-not-have-a-three-second-
memory/
Department of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, 2013, The psychological

functions of music listening [Online]
25

Eaton et al., 1977, The Mauthner-initiated startle response in teleost fish. [Online]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/870603/
[Accessed 26th February 2017]
Emmanuel Pasco-Viel, Cyril Charles, Pascale Chevret and Vincent Laudet, 2010,
Evolutionary Trends of the Pharyngeal Dentition in Cypriniformes (Actinopterygii:
Ostariophysi) [Online]
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/44807278_fig1_Figure-1-Localization-of-the-fifth-
ceratobranchial-in-the-goldfish-Carassius-auratus
From the section Glasgow & West Scotland, 2017, Dogs 'prefer reggae and soft rock' to other
music genres, research suggests [Online]
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-38757761
Gerlai R., 2007, Alarm substance induced behavioral responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
[Online]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18054804/
[Accessed 26th February 2017]
Goldfish Know Their Bach From Their Stravinsky [Online]

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112936992/goldfish-trained-to-respond-to-music-
bach-stravinsky-090113/
Henry B. Bigelow, 1904, The Sense of Hearing in the Goldfish Carassius Auratus [Online]
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2454971?seq=2#page_scan_tab_contents
How Well Do Dogs and Other Animals Hear? [Online]

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/HearingRange.html
Josh Lieberman, 2013, Goldfish Can Distinguish Between The Music Of Bach And
Stravinsky; Can You? [Online]
http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/5988/20130903/fish-music-bach-stravinsky-japanese-
goldfish-study.htm

http://www.academia.edu/207396/Preference_of_Goldfish_Carassius_auratus_for_Dark_Plac
es
J.S.Hart, F. F. a.,1948. The relation of temperature to oxygen consumption in the Goldfish.

MBL The Biological Bulletin, Volume 94, pp.66-77
26

KAAN, J. A. M. a. H. W., 1940. The Digestive tract of Carrasius auratus. MBL-The

Biological Bulletin, Volume 78, pp. 53-67
Linnaeus, 1758. s.l.:s.n.

Department of Biology and Center for Comparative and Evolutionary Biology of Hearing,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. [Online]
Sonia Duarte, C. A. L. R. J. O. a. R. F., 2006. Swimming Behaviour patterns of Carassius

auratus and Solea senegalensis at different velocities, p.267
Street, R., n.d. Biokids inquiry of Diverse Species. [Online]

http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Carassius_auratus/
Susan Gaidos, Aquariums may pacify Alzheimer's patients, 1999 [Online]

https://news.uns.purdue.edu/html4ever/1999/990628.Edwards.fish.html
Videos:
Eugene O'Loughlin, 2015, How To... Perform a One-Way ANOVA Test (By Hand) [Online]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUjsSB7E-ko
[Accessed 2nd February 2017]
8. Appendix
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Extended Essay

Word Count: 3897

Word Count: 294

1.1 Background Information………………………………………………. 01

3. Data Collection and Results………………………………………………................... 10

3.1 Observation of Experimental Data- Swimming and Feeding Patterns... 10

3.2 Observation of Control- Speed and Behaviour………………………... 15

1.1 Background Information

Constant Variable Why it was kept How it was kept

varying ages or using

For group (Experimental):

For an Individual Fish (Control):

1. A string was used to measure the interior circumference of the bowl.

2. Calculate the radius using the formula:

5. Use the following formula to calculate the speed of the fish:

3. Data Collection and results:

Behaviour in Rock Music:

Behaviour in Country Music:

Behaviour in Jazz Music:

Behaviour in Indian Classical:

Graph 1: Genre of Music Vs Time taken to Feed

Genre of Music Vs Time taken to Feed

3.2 Observation of Control- Behaviour and Speed:

Measuring the radius of the fishbowl:

Using the formula:

Sample Calculations for Rock music:

Image 4: Parts of the Fish Bowl

Parts of the Distance (cm)=x Frequency=f f(x)

Distance travelled by fish in the Full Large Round=f(x)

Data Table 2: Individual Fish Speed

Genre of Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5

Individual Fish Speed for each Genre of Music

0.024 Indian Classical

Processed Data Table 2.1: Average speeds of Fish in each Trial

Genre of Music Average Speed

Normal 0.0252 m/s

Rock 0.0293 m/s

Country 0.0256 m/s

Jazz 0.0277 m/s

Indian Classical 0.0287 m/s

Graph 2.1: Average Speed Vs Genre of Music

Speed Vs Genre of Music

0.025 Average Speed (m/sec)

Formula for ANOVA13:

𝑀𝑆𝑆7 = Mean sum of squares within groups

𝑀𝑆𝑆@ = Mean sum of squares between groups

F=F statistical value

g=All values within the group

G=Total number of groups

X= Each Value (Speed of Fish)

𝑥; =Mean of each group

n= Total number of variables

k= Total number of groups

𝑛; =Number in each group

𝑥> =Overall mean of all groups

df= Degree of Freedom

0.0280 + 0.0274 + 0.0277 + 0.0279 + 0.0276

𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠: 𝐽𝑎𝑧𝑧

𝑆𝑆7 = 0.00000018 + 0.0000002 + 0.00000023 + 0.00000023 + 0.00000018

F statistical value (335.69) > F critical value (2.8661)

∴ Null Hypothesis rejected

Image 5.1: Data inserted on Statplus LE for One-Way Anova Test

Image 5.2: Results of One-Way Anova Test