Abstract
Male and female Long-Evans rats were given open-field tests at 30 and/or 120 days of age. At 30 days of age, males and females did not differ in their open-field behavior. At 120 days of age, however, females locomoted more, reared more, and showed less wall-hugging than males, regardless of whether or not the animals had received tests in the open field at 30 days of age. The appearance of sex differences was due to an increase in the scores of the females between 30 and 120 days of age.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Birke, L. I. A., &Archer, J. Open-field behaviour of oestrous and dioestrous rats: Evidence against an ‘emotionality’ interpretation.Animal Behaviour, 1975,23, 509–512.
Broadhurst, P. L. Determinants of emotionality in the rat. I. Situational factors.British Journal of Psychology, 1957,48, 1–12.
Furchtgott, E., Wechkin, S., &Dees, J. W. Open-field exploration as a function of age.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1961,54, 386–388.
Hall, C. S. Drive and emotionality: Factors associated with adjustment in the rat.Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1934,17, 89–108.
Quadagno, D. M., Shryne, J., Anderson, C., &Gorski, R. A. Influence of gonadal hormones on social, sexual, emergence, and open field behaviour in the rat (Rattus norvegicus).Animal Behaviour, 1972,20, 732–740.
Swanson, H. I. Interaction of experience with adrenal and sex hormones on the behaviour of hamsters in the open field test.Animal Behaviour, 1969,17, 148–154.
Valle, F. P. Effects of strain, sex, and illumination on open-field behavior of rats.American Journal of Psychology, 1970,83, 103–111.
Valle, F. P. Rats’ performance on repeated tests in the open field as a function of age.Psychonomic Science, 1971,23, 333–335.
Valle, F. P. Free and forced exploration in rats as a function of between- vs with-Ss design.Psychonomic Science, 1972,29, 11–13.
Wurtman, R. J. Effects of light and visual stimuli on endocrine function. In L. Martini & W. F. Ganong (Eds.),Neuroendocrinology (Vol. II). New York: Academic Press, 1967. Pp. 19–59.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by the National Research Council of Canada, Grant APA-0266.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Valle, F.P., Bols, R.J. Age factors in sex differences in open-field activity of rats. Animal Learning & Behavior 4, 457–460 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214439
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214439