16 rats were randomly assigned to each of 3 experimental conditions: 6 forced-activity Ss, 5 voluntary-activity Ss, and 5 restricted Ss. Rats in the forced-activity group were placed individually into a training apparatus in which they had to run on a moving belt 15 min. per day for 24 days. Voluntary activity occurred in a stationary training apparatus where Ss were allowed to run and explore freely. Restricted Ss were confined to cages. Forced Ss made significantly fewer errors in a water maze than the voluntarily active Ss who made fewer errors than the restricted ones. There was also a significant difference in the latency between the groups, with the same ranking.
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