Effects of rearing and sex on maze running and competitive exploration in rats

Publication Type:
 Journal Article
Year of Publication:
 1979
Authors:
 Rhawn Joseph
Publication/Journal:
 The Journal of Psychology
Keywords:
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Abstract:

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 found that enriched and deprived males (a) demonstrated a superior maze learning ability as compared to enriched and deprived females, respectively; (b) enriched rats were superior maze learners and more exploratory than deprived rats; and (c) enriched learners were more exploratory than enriched females, whereas deprived females were more exporatory than deprived males. It was suggested that differential rearing conditions may cause significant reversals in sex related ability and behavior (i.e. maze learning and exploration) and may significantly affect perceptual sensitivity.

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