The Choice Point Behavior of Rats in a Multiple Path Elimination Problem

Abstract

In 2 expts. a majority of rats were found capable of solving a 4-path elimination problem in which the order of elimination of paths was not controlled by the experimenter. None of these rats developed a wholly stereotyped order of elimination. In a 3d expt. in which the experimenter selected the 1st path on each trial, taking care to make it a different path each day, so that no stereotyped soln. was possible. The rats not only solved the problem but seemed to be aided thereby in reaching the soln. Two measures of choice point behavior, hesitation time and vicarious trial and error, exhibited an increase as the rat approached the criterion of 5 successive errorless runs. As this series of errorless trials was attained, these measures tended to show decreases. The most consistent similarity of performance among the expts. showed in each group an increase in hesitation time just prior to the achievement of an adequate soln.