Two forms of handling were used as reinforcement in a T-maze for 34 albino rats. In a twelve-day experiment, those receiving gentling learned to avoid reinforcement while those receiving fondling learned to obtain it. In a six-day follow-up, rats were given either a fondling hand or a rat companion as reinforcement. The proportion of reinforced trials and running times were similar for both objects. Rats learned a task to obtain interaction with a rat or responsive surrogate.
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