Abstract
Studies of the learning behavior of rats in a water maze are presented. A total of 135 Ss, in 12 groups, were subjected to water temperatures from 60 to 110 deg F. Performance was assessed in terms of percentage of learners, trials, errors, and time for each temperature. The results suggest that learning is a nonmonotonic function of temperature with peak performances in the regions of 80 and 110 deg, while motivation increases unidirectionally as water temperature diverges from that of the body.
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References
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WEVER, E. G. Water temperature as an incentive to swimming activity in the rat. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1932, 14, 219–224.
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Consalvi, C. Motivation and learning in a water maze. Psychon Sci 16, 34–35 (1969). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331900
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331900