Research Article
Effects of Varying Environmental Conditions Upon Self-Stimulation Behavior of the Rat
Author:
Philippe De Witte
Laboratoire de Neurophysiologic U.C.L. 54.49 Avenue Hippocrate 54 1200 Bruxelles, BE
Abstract
Rats, implanted with chronic electrodes at the postero-lateral part of the hypothalamus, were allowed to self-regulate the train duration of electrical rewarding brain stimulation in two different surroundings, i.e. home cage and strange cage. The total time of self-stimulation, the number of bar pressings, as well as the mean duration of bar pressing were automatically recorded. Results show that the total time of self-stimulation and the number of bar pressings increase in the strange cage while the mean duration of bar pressing decreases. It is assumed that the environment of a strange cage offers fewer positive properties than the environment of the home cage because self-stimulation behavior is higher in the strange cage.
How to Cite:
De Witte, P., 1980. Effects of Varying Environmental Conditions Upon Self-Stimulation Behavior of the Rat. Psychologica Belgica, 20(2), pp.179–184. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/pb.665
Published on
01 Jan 1980.
Peer Reviewed
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