Stimulus control of spontaneous alternation in the rat.

Abstract

The traditional view that avoidance of the previously experienced alternative is a source of spontaneous alternation in the T maze was tested against R. J. Douglas' (see 40:11) conclusion that the avoidance of prior absolute turn direction and odor trail are the sole factors responsible for alternation. The amount of alternation by 30 Sprague-Dawley rats to the maze cue of goal-arm lightness was significantly greater than expected by chance alone. However, the amount of alternation did not increase with the duration of exposure to the initially selected goal-arm lightness or decrease with the length of delay since prior exposure. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)