Abstract
The results of a number of studies indicate that rats and mice as young as 7 days of age are capable of learning an escape task. Because in all of these studies footshock was used as the negative reinforcer, it was considered necessary to determine if other negative reinforcers could support learning in infant rodents. Accordingly, 7- and 9-day-old rats were given escape training in a straight alley, during which removal from a cold grid-like floor served as reinforcement. In comparison with yoked controls, trained subjects showed little evidence of learning. Twenty-four hours later, these same animals and naive control animals were given retraining and training sessions, respectively. While there was little evidence of a residual effect of the initial training or yoked control experience, all 10-day-old age groups showed an intrasession increase in speed and an intrasession decrease in competing responses. It was concluded, therefore, that a cold-inducing stimulus can also serve as an effective reinforcer in the escape training of infant rats.
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This research was supported in part by a Faculty Summer Research Grant from Susquehanna University to James R. Misanin.
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Hinderliter, C.F., Misanin, J.R., Baker, D.F. et al. Learning in infant rats: Escape from cold. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 12, 437–440 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329730
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329730