Some Behavioral Differences in Mice Genetically Selected for High and Low Brain Weight

Abstract

Learning ability, exploratory behavior, and emotionality were measured in mice genetically selected for high and low total brain weight. The high selection lines scored significantly higher than the low lines in locomotor activity in the open field and discrimination learning performance in a water maze, and these findings were supported by correlations between brain weight and behavioral scores within unselected control lines. There is some evidence that these behavioral differences are associated with general changes in brain size produced by genetic selection.