Abstract
This study further investigates the relationship between cage size and activity in the open field. Male hooded rats were housed at weaning either individually or in pairs in small, medium, or large cages and observed after 15 days in an apparatus providing a choice between three environments of identical construction and dimensions to the different home cages. Three experimental conditions were employed. Both isolated and pair-housed rats were tested alone in the unfamiliar apparatus and some isolated rats were first habituated to the apparatus. Time spent in each size apparatus component was recorded. The results failed to explain earlier findings of a positive relationship between open-field behavior and cage size in isolated rats, in terms of spatial preference. Isolated component preferences were inversely related to cage size, while pair-housed preferences were positively related to cage size. Component preference was not related to component area or perimeter distance. The implications of this spatial behavior for exploration and emotionality theories are discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Archer, J. Tests for emotionality in rats and mice: A review.Animal Behaviour, 1973,21, 205–235.
Archer, J. Rodent sex differences in emotional and related behavior.Behavioral Biology, 1975,14, 451–479.
Baumeister, A., Hawkins, W. F., &Cromwell, R. L. Need states and activity level.Psychological Bulletin, 1964,61, 438–453.
Broadhurst, P. L. Determination of emotionality in the rat. I. Situational factors.British Journal of Psychology, 1957,48, 1–12.
Bronfenbrenner, U. Early deprivation in mammals: A cross-species analysis. In G. Newton & S. Levine (Eds.),Early experience and behavior. Springfield, Ill: Thomas, 1968.
Cox, D. R. Planning of experiments. New York: Wiley, 1958.
Fredericson, E. The wall seeking tendency in three inbred mouse strains.Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1953,82, 143–146.
Kuo, Z-Y. The dynamics of behavior development. New York: Random House, 1967.
Lore, R. K. Activity-drive hypothesis: Effects of activity restriction.Psychological Bulletin, 1968,70, 566–574.
Manosevitz, M., &Pryor, J. B. Cage size a factor environmental enrichment.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1975,89, 648–654.
Morrison, B. J. Effect of size of rearing group on emotionality: Possible confounding with cage size.Psychological Reports, 1968,22, 1071–1072.
Morrison, B. J., &Hill, W. F. Socially facilitated reduction of fear response in rats raised in groups or in isolation.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1967,47, 326–330.
Moyer, K. E., &Korn, J. H. Behavioral effects of isolation in the rat.Psychonomic Science, 1965,3, 503–504.
Stern, J. A., Winokur, G., Eisenstein, A., Taylor, R., &Sly, M. The effects of group vs. individual housing on behavior and physiological responses to stress in the albino rat.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1960,4, 185–190.
Syme, L. A. Environmental influences on the behaviour of laboratory rats and some pharmacological applications. Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Canterbury, 1973.
Syme, L. A. Influence of age and sex on the behavior of rats deprived of the rearing response.Developmental Psychobiology, 1975,8, 35–39.
Syme, L. A., &Hughes, R. N. Social isolation in young rats: Effects of cage size on open-field behavior.Psychonomic Science, 1972,29, 25–26.
Thiessen, D. D. Population density and behavior: A review of theoretical and physiological contributions.Texas Reports of Biological Medicine, 1964,22, 266–314.
Zajonc, R. B. Attraction, affiliation and attachment. In J. F. Eisenberg & W. S. Dillon (Eds.),Man and beast: Comparative social behavior. Washington: Smithsonian Institute, 1971.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
These data were collected as part of a PhD project at the Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Syme, L.A., Syme, G.J. Spatial interaction between cage and test environments: Position preferences of young isolated and pair-housed rats. Animal Learning & Behavior 4, 396–400 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214428
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214428