Effects of rearing and sex on maze running and competitive exploration in rats
Male and female rats in enriched environments were tested for maze learning ability, retested for retention after 30 days (Experiment 1, N = 22), and tested for exploratory behavior, designed as the competing tendency to make “irrelevant” section entry responses when allowed unobstructed, problem-free access to goal boxes (Experiment 2, N = 16). It was […]
Enriching the metabolic cage- effects on rat physiology and behaviour
Metabolic cages are used for housing rats and mice for up to five days for collection of urine and/or faeces. The small, barren area of the metabolic cage compromises animal welfare as the animals lack a solid floor, shelter, nest material and social contact. We constructed and tested a practically-applicable enrichment device designed to meet […]
Computer-assisted enrichment for zoo-housed orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)
The study of environmental enrichment has identified a variety of effective forms of enrichment, but there are widespread problems associated with their use. Few forms of enrichment are cognitively challenging, and even the most effective often result in rapid habituation. This study examined the use of a computer-joystick system, designed to increase in complexity with […]