Role of collateral behavior in temporal discrimination performance and learning in rats.

Abstract

Designed 2 studies to test the functional significance of collateral behavior during the acquisition of a temporal discrimination (drl, 10-sec schedule). In the 1st study, 3 groups of 6 male holtzman albino rats were trained, each under a different condition of body restriction, and 6 other ss served as a stress control. All except completely restricted ss showed drl acquisition. In the 2nd study, 16 ss were placed on a drl 10-sec schedule, 1 group under conditions of complete restriction and the other under no restriction conditions, following which 1/2 of each group was switched to the other condition. Ss switched from restriction to no restriction showed rapid drl acquisition, while ss switched in the opposite direction showed a decrement in drl performance. It is concluded that rats are capable of learning temporal contingencies while deprived of gross motoric behavior but are not able to perform appropriately under such conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)