Deprivation states and behavioral attributes.

Abstract

The Ss were 98 male rats bred by crossing the Tryon maze "brights" and maze "dulls". Groups made hungry or thirsty were run on a T-maze in two problems. In one, animals had to learn simply the location of a reward which was in a constant position. In the second animals were required to acquire a response-alternation habit. Thirsty animals excelled in the former, hungry animals in the latter. It is concluded that physiological conditions accompanying food deprivation facilitate variability and those accompanying water deprivation facilitate stereotypy of behavior.