Groups of rats were raised from weaning under normal animal colony conditions and conditions of reduced sensory stimulation. In a shuttle box groups of 5, 2, and 2 showed acquisition for mild shock proportional to degree of deprivation (P < .02). In a second experiment 16 deprived animals preferred shock more than did 14 nondeprived animals (P < .01). Nondeprived rats preferred shock to no shock (P < .01). The results are interpreted as effects of arousal and satiation.
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