Effects of copulatory experience on mating behavior in the male rat.

Abstract

"Two experiments were conducted in order to determine the effects of copulatory experience on mating behavior in the male rat. In Experiment I, 20 males selected for their low initial level of responsiveness were used. Experienced Ss proved superior to control Ss in terms of percentage copulating and latency scores in 30-min. time-limited tests. All other aspects of the mating behavior were the same for both groups. These findings are in agreement with predictions based on Beach's central excitatory mechanism. In Experiment II, 30 males selected for their high level of sexual responsiveness were tested. Predicted differences between experienced and control Ss were not found. It was concluded that highly arousable Ss are either little affected by sexual experience or that these Ss are maximally conditioned by a minimum of sexual contact." From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2EF82R. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)