Skip to main content
Log in

Contributions of the genes albinism (c) and retinal degeneration (rd) to a strain-by-training procedure interaction in avoidance learning

  • Published:
Behavior Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of c and rd on jump-out and one-way avoidance learning were examined using both inbred strains and test crosses. Neither gene was found to retard either escape or avoidance performance in the jump-out task, although rd led to less accurate jumping. One-way performance, which required running through a small hole in a wall, was greatly disrupted in mice homozygous for rd; both escape latencies and learning rate were slower than those of mice with normal retinas. Two inbred strains with albinism did poorly on the one-way task, but no deleterious effects of c on one-way performance were detected in several test crosses. The absence of an albinism effect was not surprising, since all training was given under dim red light

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, K. V., and O'Steen, W. K. (1972). Black-white and pattern discrimination in rats without photoreceptors.Exptl. Neurol. 34, 446–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bovet, D., Bovet-Nitti, F., and Oliverio, A. (1968). Memory and consolidation mechanisms in avoidance learning of inbred mice.Brain Res. 10: 168–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bovet-Nitti, F. (1969). Facllitation of simultaneous visual discrimination by nicotine in four “inbred” strains of mice.Psychopharmacologia 14: 193–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, R. L. (1964). Inheritance of avoidance conditioning in mice: A diallel study.Science 143: 1188–1190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creel, D. J., Dustman, R. E., and Beck, E. C. (1970). Differences in visually evoked responses in albino versus hooded rats.Exptl. Neurol. 29: 298–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeFries, J. C., Hegmann, J. P., and Weir, M. W. (1966). Open-field behavior in mice: Evidence for a major gene effect mediated by the visual system.Science 154: 1577–1579.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, J. L., and Wimer, R. E. (1966). Neural, sensory, and motor functions. In Green, E. L. (ed.)Biology of the Laboratory Mouse, McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillery, R. W., Amorn, C. S., and Eighmy, B. B. (1971). Mutants with abnormal visual pathways: An explanation of anomalous geniculate lamine.Science 174: 831–832.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gyllensten, L., and Lindberg, J. (1964). Development of the visual cortex in mice with inherited retinal dystrophy.J. Comp. Neurol. 122: 79–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, K. R., and Schlesinger, K. (1967). Effects of the albino and dilute loci on mouse behavior.J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 63: 320–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalil, R. E., Jhaveri, S. R., and Richards, W. (1971). Anomalous retinal pathways in the Siamese cat: An inadequate substrate for normal binocular vision.Science 174: 302–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lashley, K. S. (1930). The mechanism of vision. III. The comparative visual acuity of pigmented and albino rats.J. Genet. Psychol. 37: 481–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • McReynolds, W. E., Weir, M. W., and DeFries, J. C. (1967). Open-field behavior in mice: Effect of test illumination.Psychon. Sci. 9: 277–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagy, Z. M., and Misanin, J. R. (1970). Visual perception in the retinal degenerate C3H mouse.J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 72: 306–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, K., Thiessen, D. D., and Lindzey, G. (1970). Acrophobic and photophobic responses associated with the albino locus in mice.Behav. Genet. 1: 249–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirenne, M. H. (1967).Vision and the Eye, Chapman and Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royce, J. R., and Covington, M. (1960). Genetic differences in the avoidance conditioning of mice.J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 53: 197–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorsby, A., Koller, P. C., Attfield, M., Davey, J. B., and Lucas, D. R. (1954). Retinal dystrophy in the mouse: Histological and genetic aspects.J. Exptl. Zool. 125: 171–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stasik, J. H. (1970). Inheritance of T-maze learning in mice.J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 71: 251–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tansley, K. (1954). An inherited retinal degeneration in the mouse.J. Hered. 45: 123–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlsten, D. (1972a). Phenotypic and genetic relations between initial response to electric shock and rate of avoidance learning in mice.Behav. Genet. 2: 211–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlsten, D. (1972b). Genetic experiments with animal learning: A critical review.Behav. Biol. 7: 143–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcock, J. (1969). Gene action and behavior: An evaluation of major gene pleiotropism.Psychol. Bull. 72: 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wimer, R., and Weller, S. (1965). Evaluation of a visual discrimination task for the analysis of the genetics of a mouse behavior.Percept. Motor. Skills 20: 203–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winston, H. D., Lindzey, G., and Connor, J. (1967). Albinism and avoidance learning in mice.J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 63: 77–81.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This research was supported in part by grant APA-398 from the National Research Council of Canada.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wahlsten, D. Contributions of the genes albinism (c) and retinal degeneration (rd) to a strain-by-training procedure interaction in avoidance learning. Behav Genet 3, 303–316 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067607

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067607

Keywords

Navigation