Hesitation Time and the Solution of an Alternation Problem in Rats

Spontaneous alternation behavior.

“…There may also exist a repetition tendency. Each 5 1 behaves in a particular way on Trial 1, and if nothing is changed, should behave in the same way on Trial 2. When, as often is the case, there is initially a strong preference for A or B, p 0 = .50 overestimates the a priori expectation of alternation.…”

“…Exploration, in turn, is explained as emerging from a curiosity drive aroused by novel stimuli. 1 The 5 alternates because the alternative last entered is the less novel.…”

“…However, scattered throughout the literature are others. Alternation has been considered, for example, as an instrumental mode of activity (1,12), and as a reaction to frustration or punishment (43). These explanations shall not be discussed further since they are unconvincing in the light of the wide variety of conditions yielding alternation behavior.…”

The influence of work on behavior.

“…In 1940, Crannel (12) offered some new light on "spontaneous alternation," with a theoretical interpretation based on Tolman's system of behavior. Crannel suggested that Dennis' results might be fitted by the concept of "demand against distance."…”

An experimental analysis of maze discrimination.

“…Instead of the elevated maze of the previous study an alley maze was used. 1 The maze was built of wooden sections, 4" wide and 8" high, covered with hardware cloth, and open at the bottom. The entire maze was painted flat black and rested on black floor covering.…”