Scanning Behavior of Rats During Eating Under Stressful Noise
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1997 |
Authors: |
H. Krebs, P. Weyers, M. Macht, H.G. Weijers, W. Janke |
Publication/Journal: |
Physiology & Behavior |
Keywords: |
behavioral ecological models, noise effects, scanning behavior, stress-induced feeding behavior, vigilance |
ISBN: |
0031-9384 |
Abstract:
Behavioral ecological theories postulate that threatening environments should increase eating speed and vigilance during feeding. In the present experiment, eating speed and scanning behavior during eating were measured in 36 rats in 5 consecutive test sessions under stressful noise (95 dB white noise, n = 18) and control conditions (60 dB, n = 18) after the animals had been habituated to the test environment. Intense noise induced an increase of scanning rate and eating speed. These effects are similar to those reported for novel and light environments.