Abstract
Water-deprived rats were trained to approach one of four tables in an elevated X-maze for water reward. Before the first trial of each daily session, the experimenter provided information about the location of water by placing the rat on the table that was correct for that day. A correction procedure was used. The same animals served as subjects in two experiments in which either three trials (Experiment I) or seven trials (Experiment II) were given each day. In Experiment I all subjects were tested without injections, and 1 h after injection of saline or 20-, 50-, or 75-µg doses of ACTH4−10. In Experiment II subjects were tested 1 h after injection of 75 µg of ACTH4−10 on 3 days, and 1 h after injection of saline on the 3 previous days and the 3 following days. In both experiments the percentage of correct responses on the first trial was greater after 75 µg of ACTH4−10. Performance on subsequent trials was not affected. The improvement could reflect a better use of the information provided prior to the first trial or a reduced tendency to visit the table that had been correct on the previous day.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Beatty, P. A., Beatty, W. W., Bowman, R. E., & Gilchrist, J. C. The effects of ACTH, adrenalectomy and dexamethasone on the acquisition of an avoidance response in rats. Physiology and Behavior, 1970, 5, 939–944.
De Wied, D. Effects of peptide hormones on behavior. In W. F. Ganong and L. Martini (Eds.), Frontiers in neuroendocrinology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1969. Pp. 97–140.
De Wied, D. Pituitary-adrenal system hormones and behavior. In F. O. Schmitt and F. G. Worden (Eds.), The Neurostiences: Third study program, Cambridge: M.I.T. Press, 1974. Pp. 653–666.
Guth, S., Levine, S., & Seward, J. P. Appetitive acquisition and extinction effects with exogenous ACTH. Physiology and Behavior, 1971, 7, 195–200.
LissáK, K., & Bohus, B. Pituitary hormones and avoidance behavior of the rat. International Journal of Psychobiology, 1972, 2, 103–115.
Maier, N. R. F. Cortical destruction of the posterior part of the brain and its effect on reasoning in rats. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 1932, 56, 179–214.
Pagano, R. R., & Lovely, R. H. Diurnal cycle and ACTH facilitation of shuttlebox avoidance. Physiology and Behavior, 1972, 8, 721–723.
Siegel, S. Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1956.
Stone, C. P., & King, F. A. Effects of hypophysectomy on behavior in rats. I. Preliminary survey. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1954, 47, 219–231.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Isaacson, R.L., Dunn, A.J., Rees, H.D. et al. Acth4−10 and improved use of information in rats. Psychobiology 4, 159–162 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326570
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326570