One of the ways that animals learn is through associative learning. Animals can learn to associate a stimulus with food, and will exhibit a response whenever exposed to the stimulus. Associative learning can be used to teach animals a specific behaviour, but can also be used to test the learning ability of specific species. A common method used to facilitate learning is repetition. For example, it is used in schools where students are given assignments to practice skills learned in class. Repetition is also used in animal training where animals are trained frequently in order to teach them a specific behaviour.
This Extended Essay will focus on the effect of repetition on the learning ability of the Xiphophorus maculatus, or platy, a tropical