The interval between exploratory trials was varied in experiments using simple elevated or enclosed mazes. Activity on the second trial was depressed for short intertrial intervals but had recovered after about 10 min.; the degree of recovery was different in the two types of maze. A second decrease in second trial activity was found with inter-trial intervals of more than 20 min., but a further experiment suggested this was due to the effects of delay itself, rather than to previous experience of the environment.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BerlyneD. E. (1960). Conflict, Arousal and CuriosityNew York: McGraw-Hill.
2.
HallidayM. S. (1967). Exploratory behaviour in elevated and enclosed mazes. Quart J. exp. Psychol.19, 254–63.
3.
MontgomeryK. C. (1953). Exploratory behaviour as a function of ‘similarity’ of stimulus situations. J. comp. physiol. Psychol.46, 315–9.
4.
WangG. H. (1923). Relation between ‘spontaneous activity’ and oestrus cycle in the white rat. Comp. Psychol. Monogr.2, 6.
