No abstract

No abstract

The behavior denoted by this title has been fully described by Maier (7), Morgan and Morgan (10), and Hall and Martin (3). The use of the term "audiogenic seizures" will be considered in the discussion.* We are indebted to J. D. Morgan for assistance in certain phases of this work. The kindness of Mr. Mason Haire in reading and criticizing the manuscript is also gratefully acknowledged.

No abstract

Functional disturbances in animal behavior have as yet been little investigated. Nevertheless, they offer experimental possibilities of considerable significance for the study of processes underlying aberrant human behavior. In the pioneer studies of Pavlov (4, 5), neurotic behavior appeared when the animal was presented with a situation which heavily taxed his capacities for discrimination. It consisted of nervousness and emotional disturbances accompanied by the loss of previously acquired conditioned reactions. Essentially similar neurotic behavior has been noted by Fields (2) in the rat presented with a difficult discrimination problem. Maier, 1 however, has recently reported a "neurotic" behavior pattern of quite different character. It is described as a stereotyped sequence of behavior in rats which are given a blast of air in a problem situation of an insolvable nature. An air blast prompt the rat to jump from the discrimination platform, to run rapidly and vigorously in circles on the floor, to exhibit tics and minor convulsive behavior, and finally to lapse into a coma. The unusual but dependable character of this behavior sequence has been accepted as providing a new and fruitful basis for research in the problem of experimental neurosis. 2 We report here observations of the same "neurotic" behavior produced under conditions quite different from those of Dr. Maier.1 Paper read at the Richmond meetings of the A. A. A. S. See Science, 1939, 89, 107.1 Report of the committee on award of the association prize. See Science,