Effects of Electric Shock on Exploratory Behaviour in the Rat

Abstract

Rats were given five daily 3-min trials in a Y-maze with two grey and one black-and-white striped arms. An initial preference was shown for the striped arm. Between Trials 3 and 4 half the subjects were given electric shock, half in a striped box and half in a box lined with aluminium foil. Shock resulted in reduced ambulation in the maze, but increased the preference for the striped arm in terms of initial choice and time spent in it. There was no significant difference between the two shock conditions. Results are consistent with the notion that mild fear may facilitate exploration.