It’s a common adage — to have a “memory like a goldfish” is to be absolutely absent-minded. Though they’re beloved by many as household pets, goldfish (Carassius auratus) are known for having a memory that lasts just three seconds.
Yet despite that forgetful reputation, scientists have known for decades that such claims don't hold up to scrutiny. The freshwater fish are much smarter than you might think, and studies have repeatedly shown that their memories can actually span several months.
What's more, a recent surge in research on fish brain function has found that goldfish share many of the same cognitive abilities as humans, including object perception, social learning, and spatial awareness.
Goldfish and Memory Span Misconceptions
The key brain structure that allows mammals to form memories — the hippocampus — is absent in fish. In many animals with higher-level brain function, the hippocampus stores explicit memory, which allows us to consciously recall specific facts and firsthand experiences.
