Thermoregulatory behavior in infant Norway rats ( Rattus norvegicus) and Syrian golden hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus): Arousal, orientation, and locomotion

The responses of 2- and 8-day-old rats (Rattus norvegicus) and hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) to thermal stimulation were assessed in 4 experiments. In Experiment 1, the surface underlying the pup was cooled, and the latency to escape to a region of warmth was measured. Experiment 2 required pups to locomote farther to gain access to warmth. […]