Role of Restricted Running and Goal-Box Placements in the Double Runway Behavior of the Albino Rat

Abstract

7 groups (ns = 10) of albino rats received 40 acquisition trials (5/day) in a double alley under one of the following conditions: (1) 40 8-pellet rewarded GB₁ placements; (2) 40 8-pellet rewarded run trials, RW₁ and RW₂; (3) 40 NR GB₁ placements; (4) 40 8-pellet rewarded RW₁-only trials, and (5) 40 NR run trials, RW₁ and RW₂. Following preshift training, 30 postshift trials were given under the following conditions: (1) one of the 8-pellet rewarded placements groups was shifted to NR, whereas the two remaining placement groups received the same GB₁ conditions as in the preshift phase; all Ss in the 3 placement groups now ran RW₂ only; (2) Ss in RW₁-only group received 30 NR trials in GB₁ and now ran RW₁ and RW₂; and (3) one group of eight-pellet rewarded Ss RW₁ and RW. received 30 NR trials GB₁, whereas the other two RW₁ and RW₂ groups remained as in the preshift phase. All Ss received one pellet in GB₂. During acquisition, RW₁ speeds were a direct positive function of GB₁ magnitude, while RW₂ speeds were an inverse function of amount received in GB₁. The data are more supportive of a hypothesis based upon an odor-mediated, conditioned tendency to remain in GB₁ rather than an emotionally based FE.

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