Thermoregulatory behavior in infant Norway rats ( Rattus norvegicus) and Syrian golden hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus): Arousal, orientation, and locomotion
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2002 |
Authors: |
Greta Sokoloff, Mark S. Blumberg, Elizabeth A. Boline, Eric D. Johnson, Necole M. Streeper |
Publication/Journal: |
Journal of Comparative Psychology |
Keywords: |
arousal, hamsters, locomotion, orientation, rats, thermal stimulation |
ISBN: |
0735-7036 |
Abstract:
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. Experiment 3 was similar to Experiment 1 except the
underlying surface was heated. Finally, in Experiment 4, locomotor behavior was assessed during
isothermal cooling in which there was no possibility for escape. In general, hamsters exhibited more rapid
and robust responses to thermal stimulation than rats. A framework for interpreting these results is
presented emphasizing how differences in locomotor and thermogenic capabilities influence thermoregulatory
behavior under different task conditions.