Elsevier

Animal Behaviour

Volume 16, Issue 1, February 1968, Pages 92-96
Animal Behaviour

Behaviour of male and female rats with free choice of two environments differing in novelty

https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(68)90116-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Male and female albino rats were individually observed for 15-min in an exploration box with access to a novel half and a similar half to which each subject had been confined for 24 hr prior to testing (i.e. the familiar half). A behaviour-sampling technique was used whereby it was noted at the end of every 10-sec period in which half of the apparatus the subject was and in what sort of activity it was engaged. The total number of exploratory units entered was also recorded.

All rats were observed more often in the novel half than in the familiar half, but there was no significant difference between males and females on this measure. However, females were seen to be engaged in exploratory activity at the end of more 10-sec periods than males. Also, the proportion of exploratory to non-exploratory activity observed in the novel half was higher for females than for males. On the other hand males were seen to be engaged in grooming, eating or drinking and freezing behaviour more often than females.

Decrements in locomotor and exploratory activity occurred for males during the 15-min observation period. There were also decrements in freezing and increments in grooming for both males and females and an increment in eating or drinking for males only.

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Present address: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

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