Abstract
Carpenter ants were found to escape from and avoid prolonged exposures to 20–80 R/sec. x-rays when tested in the fall. Using ionizing radiation as the unconditioned stimulus, it was possible to establish a strong conditioned avoidance response toward the place of exposure (1 compartment of a 2-compartment, free-choice chamber). This compartment was initially preferred by the experimental Ss. Exposures under identical conditions in the spring resulted in the movement of ants into, rather than away from, the radiation field. It was not possible in the spring to condition either a positive or a negative response toward the place of exposure. Carpenter ants may undergo significant changes in physiological state at different times of the year which affect their behavior toward ionizing radiations.
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This investigation was supported by USPHS. Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Radiological Health, under Research Grant RL00119 and by a traineeship in environmental toxicology, USPHS Grant ES00055, to D. L. Martinsen.
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Martinsen, D.L., Kimeldorf, D.J. Conditioned Spatial Avoidance Behavior of Ants Induced By X-Rays. Psychol Rec 22, 225–232 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394084
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394084