Abstract
Male rats were tested in a 12-arm radial maze with 6 arms that were standard in length and 6 arms that were half the standard length. As previously reported by Brown (1990), revisits to short arms were more likely than revisits to long arms. Two explanations of this effect of mazearm length on choice accuracy were experimentally contrasted. The first attributes the effect to diminished discriminability of visited and unvisited arms when the arms are short. The second attributes the effect to a relatively lax choice criterion being applied to short arms. An analysis of the microstructure of choices, applying the logic of signal detection theory, provided evidence for the latter explanation.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Banks, W. P. (1970). Signal detection theory and human memory.Psychological Bulletin,74, 81–99.
Brown, M. F. (1990). The effects of maze-arm length on performance in the radial-arm maze.Animal Learning & Behavior,18, 13–22.
Brown, M. F. (1992). Does a cognitive map guide choices in the radialarm maze?Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes,18, 56–66.
Brown, M. F. (in press). Sequential and simultaneous choice processes in the radial-arm maze. In T. Zentall (Ed.),Animal cognition: A tribute to Donald A. Riley. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Brown, M. F., &Lesniak-Karpiak, K. B. (in press). Choice criterion effects in the radial-arm maze: Maze-arm incline and brightness.Learning & Motivation.
Brown, M. F., Wheeler, E. A., &Riley, D. A. (1989). Evidence for a shift in the choice criterion of rats in a 12-arm radial maze.Animal Learning & Behavior,17, 12–20.
Commons, M. L., Mazur, J. E., Nevin, J. A., &Rachun, H. (1987).Quantitative analysis of behavior: Vol. 5. The effect of delay and of intervening events on reinforcement value. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Commons, M. L., Nevin, J. A., &Davison, M. C. (1991).Signal detection: Mechanisms, models, and applications. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Davison, M., &McCarthy, D. (1988).The matching law: A research review. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Lockhart, R. S., &Murdock, B. B., Jr. (1970). Memory and the theory of signal detection.Psychological Bulletin,74, 100–109.
McNicol, D. (1972).A primer of signal detection theory. London: Allen & Unwin.
Macmillan, N. A., &Creelman, C. D. (1991).Detection theory: A user’s guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Olton, D. S., &Samuelson, R. J. (1976). Remembrance of places past: Spatial memory in rats.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes,2, 97–116.
Roberts, W. A., &Ilersich, T. J. (1989). Foraging on the radial maze: The role of travel time, food accessibility, and the predictability of food location.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes,15, 274–285.
Stephens, D. W., &Krebs, J. R. (1986).Foraging theory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Wright, A. A. (1991). A detection and decision process model of matching to sample. In M. L. Commons, J. A. Nevin, & M. C. Davison (Eds.),Signal detection: Mechanisms, models, and applications (pp. 191–219). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This research was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH45004.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brown, M.F., Huggins, C.K. Maze-arm length affects a choice criterion in the radial-arm maze. Animal Learning & Behavior 21, 68–72 (1993). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197978
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197978