Abstract
An animal restraint system and response operandum suitable for the study of operant behavior in the rat is described. This system combined with an inexpensive Commodore microcomputer and Psychronix interface is well-suited for the study of response parameters. Rats voluntarily entered the restraint, showed no observable signs of excess stress, and were easily extricated at the end of the experimental session. A lever-pressing operant with an adjustable force requirement was readily shaped using automated procedures. Although this system was designed for the study of high-resistance operants, it has potential advantages for other operant applications, including studies of visual discrimination and experiments requiring restraint due to physiological recording.
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Apparatus development and research were supported by NIH/DRR(MBRS) Grant RR-08202-05 awarded to Lincoln University.
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Beneke, W.M., Timson, B.F. An animal restraint for the study of high-resistance operants in the rat. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 22, 377–382 (1990). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03203178
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03203178
Keywords
- Restraint System
- Muscle Enlargement
- Microcomputer Control
- Jefferson City
- Plexiglas Frame