Performance and learning of a spatial water maze was investigated in 120 male C57BL/6J mice of three ages, 30, 150, and 365 days old. Motivation was manipulated by varying the water temperature (12.5, 23–5, 34.5, or 45.5°C). The results indicated that swimming performance was affected significantly by both age and motivation, with older animals requiring longer swimming time to escape at ail temperature levels. Swimming time decreased at extreme water temperatures for all age groups, with the greatest effect evident in the oldest age group. No age differences in learning as measured by errors or days to criterion were found. Extreme water temperatures (12.5 and 45.5°C) improved learning for all age groups.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BirrenJ. E.Age differences in learning a two-choice water maze by rats. Journal of Gerontology, 1962, 17, 207–213.
2.
BirrenJ. E., & KayH.Swimming speed of the albino rat: I. Age and sex differences. Journal of Gerontology, 1958, 13, 374–377.
3.
BotwinickJ.BrinleyJ. F., & RobbinJ. S.Learning a position discrimination and position reversals by Sprague-Dawley rats of different ages. Journal of Gerontology, 1962, 17, 315–319.
4.
BotwinickJ.BrinleyJ. F., & RobbinJ. S.Learning and reversing a four-choice multiple Y-maze by rats of three ages. Journal of Gerontology, 1963, 18, 279–282.
5.
DotyB. A., & DotyL. A.Effects of handling at various ages on later open-field behavior. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 1967, 21, 463–470.
6.
FurchtgottE.WechkinS., & DeesJ. W.Open-field exploration as a function of age. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1961, 54, 386–388.
7.
GeberW. F.AndersonT. A., & Van DyneB.Age factors in the response of the albino rat to emotional and muscular stresses. Growth, 1966, 30, 87–97.
8.
GoodrickC. L.Activity and exploration as a function of age and deprivation. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1966, 108, 239–252.
9.
GoodrickC. L.Light- and dark-contingent bar pressing in the rat as a function of age and motivation. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1970, 73, 100–104.
10.
HaggettB. N., & WerboffJ.Temperature reduction in neonatal mice: Effects on later behavior. Developmental Psychobiology, 1968, 1, 257–265.
11.
HinchcliffeR.Aging and sensory thresholds. Journal of Gerontology, 1962, 17, 45–50.
12.
JeromeE. A.Age and learning: Experimental studies. In BirrenJ. E. (Ed.), Handbook of aging and the individual: Psychological and biological aspects.Chicago: Univer. of Chicago Press, 1959. Pp. 655–699.
13.
KayH., & SimeM. E.Discrimination learning with old and young rats. Journal of Gerontology, 1962, 17, 75–80.
14.
MargolinS. E., & BunchM. E.The relationship between age and the strength of hunger motivation. Comparative Psychology Monographs, 1940, 16, 1–34.
15.
MühlbockO.The use of inbred strains of animals in experimental gerontology. CIBA Foundation Colloquium on Aging, 1957, 3, 115–130.
16.
OliverioA., & BovetD.Effects of age on maze performance and avoidance conditioning of mice. Life Sciences, 1966, 5, 1317–1324.
RetzloffE.FontaineJ., & FurutaW.Effect of daily exercises on life-span of albino rats. Geriatrics, 1966, 21, 171–177.
19.
SolyomL., & MillerS.The effect of age differences on the acquisition of operant and classical conditioned responses in rats. Journal of Gerontology, 1965, 20, 311–314.
20.
StoneC. P.The age factor in animal learning: I. Rats on the problem box and the maze. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 1929, 5, 1–130.
21.
StorerJ. B.Longevity and gross pathology at death in 22 inbred mouse strains. Journal of Gerontology, 1966, 21, 404–409.
22.
Verzar-McDougallE. J.Studies in learning and memory in ageing rats. Gerontologia (Basel), 1957, 1, 65–85.
23.
WelfordA. T.Psychomotor performance. In BirrenJ. E. (Ed.), Handbook of aging and the individual: Psychological and biological aspects.Chicago: Univer. of Chicago Press, 1959. Pp. 562–613.
24.
WerboffJ., & AndersonA.Spatial and visual performance and learning in mice. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1967, 24, 67–72.
25.
WerboffJ.AndersonA., & RossS.Mice of a four-way cross: Coat color associated with behavior and response to d-amphetamine. Journal of Psychology, 1967, 66, 99–117.
26.
WerboffJ.HaggettB. N., & AndersonA.Swimming performance of mice: Time to submersion as a function of water temperature. Physiology and Behavior, 1967, 2, 39–43.
27.
WerboffJ., & HavlenaJ.Effects of aging on open field behavior. Psychological Reports, 1962, 10, 395–398.
28.
WerboffJ., & LavertyJ. J.Spatial and visual maze learning, and motivation in Mus musculus and Peromyscus. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1970, 30, 591–598.
29.
WinerB. J.Statistical principles in experimental design.New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962.
30.
WrightW. E.WerboffJ., & HaggettB. N.Aging and water submersion in C57BL/6J mice: Initial performance and retest as a function of recovery and water temperature. Developmental Psychobiology, 1971, 4, 363–373.
