Abstract
Sixteen young adult guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) of mixed sex were used as subjects in a study of food-rewarded operant learning. All but one of the animals learned the required task. Although the general slope of the learning curve was more variable than that of other mammals, neither learning time nor number of rewards to criterion differed significantly from data obtained from other mammals. The results are discussed in terms of an evolutionary model of comparative learning, including ratio of brain weight to body weight and genetically fixed versus variable behavior categories.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angermeier, W. F. (1984). The evolution of operant learning and memory. New York: Karger.
Harlow, H. F., & Mears, C. (1979). The human model: Primate perspectives. New York: Wiley.
Jerison, H. (1973). Evolution of the brain and intelligence. New York: Academic Press.
Razran, G. (1971). Mind in evolution. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany, and from the Psychology Department of the University of New Orleans.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Angermeier, W.F., McLean, J., Minvielle, D. et al. Food-rewarded operant learning in the guinea pig. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 25, 292–295 (1987). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330360
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330360