Two tests of a fear-motivated theory of exploration

Lester, David

doi:10.3758/bf03331573

Cited by 31 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Although mild shock of 50 rnA significantly diminished the amount of time spent in the dark compartment, thus showing the unpleasant nature of shock, it did not change the number of crossings significantly. This appears to be in agreement with the results of Lester's (1968) experiments with rats.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Ethological analysis of predator avoidance by the paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis L.): II. Key stimuli in avoidance learning

Csányi

1986

Animal Learning & Behavior

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Lester (1967Lester ( ,1968 observed that a mild increase in the fear level of rats increased their exploratory tendency. Gate crossings can certainly be viewed as a special form of exploration by the paradise fish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethological analysis of predator avoidance by the paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis L.): II. Key stimuli in avoidance learning

Csányi

1986

Animal Learning & Behavior

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“…Such results, of course, could still be consistent with Lester's (1968) hypothesis of a nonmonotonic relation between activity Psychon. Sei., 1970, Vol.…”

supporting

confidence: 76%

“…In one experiment designed to test this theory (Lester, 1968), he exposed male and female rats to an open fjeld. In this study, defecation was assumed to be an index of fe ar level, and activity a measure of exploratory behavior.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear level and rats’ open-field activity and defecation

Aitken

1970

Psychon Sci

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“…The only possible explanation that can be advanced is that the fear level of the male rats and the female rats may have differed. In a previous open-field test (Lester, 1968) the males had defecated more than the females. Although no rats defecated in the present experiment, a difference in fear level may have existed.…”

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confidence: 91%

Pre-exposure and stimulus choice: Effects of locale

Lester

1968

Psychon Sci

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Rats pre-exposed to stimuli in one locale failed to show an effect from this pre-exposure when presented with the stimuli in a second locale. Pre-exposure in a locale did affect subsequent choice in that same locale. These results do not replicate a recent report of the effects of pre-exposure.Stimulus satiation theory (Glanzer, 1953) predicts that exposure of an organism to one stimulus of a pair should make the organism show a preference for the other stimulus of the pair subsequently. This prediction should hold even when pre-exposure and choice take place in different locales. Walker et al (1955) found no significant effect from preexposure in one locale on subsequent choice in aT-maze. However, they compared the observed alternation to an expected level of 50%. They made no attempt to measure position preferences in the maze and to calculate a modified expected level of alternation (Dember & Fowler, 1958).Pate (1967) also reported no significant effect from pre--exposure in one locale on choice in a second locale. However, Pate & Anders (1967) have reported a significant effect. Although they use an alternation measure without correcting for position preferences, they do report sufficient data for an appropriate analysis to be made. Of 30 rats pre-exposed to white (W), 5 subsequently chose W while of 30 rats pre-exposed to black (B), 17 subsequently chose W (x 2 = 3.89, df = I, p < 0.05). Detailed analyses indicate that only the males show an effect from pre-exposure.The present experiments were designed to investigate these discrepant results, using appropriate statistical analyses.STUDY I Procedure. The Ss were 30 male and 30 female rats from the Charles River Breeding Laboratories, strain CD, 95 days old. They were given ad lib food and water during these studies unless noted otherwise.On Days I to 5 and 8 to 12 each rat was placed alone for four min in a wooden box 22 in. by 6 in. high covered with wire netting. On Day IS a T-maze was constructed from three of these boxes and B inserts were placed on the walls of one arm and W inserts in the other arm. Each rat was given 3 min to choose to enter one arm. 2 On Day 17 each rat was tested once for the effects of pre-exposure. The rat was placed in a box II in. by 6 in. by 6 in. high with B or W inserts for 5 min. The rat was then placed in the T-maze and allowed to enter one arm. On Day 24 each rat was again tested but was pre-exposed to the other stimulus to that pre-exposed on Day 17.On Day 33 each rat was tested as on Day 17. R1lsuits. The rats showed a significant position preference on Day 15. Of 57 choices 40 were to B (z = 2.91, binomial p = 0.002). There was no sex difference (x 2 = 1.15, df = I, n. s.).On Day 17, of the 30 rats pre-exposed to B, 21 subsequently chose B and of the 30 rats pre-exposed to W, 18 subsequently chose B (x 2 = 0.29, df = I, n. s.).3On Day 24, of the 30 rats pre-exposed to B, 13 subsequently chose B and of the 30 rats pre-exposed to W, 20 subsequently chose B (x 2 = 2.42, !If = I, n. s.).On Day 33, of 29 rats2 pre-exposed ...

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Two tests of a fear-motivated theory of exploration

Cited by 31 publications

References 4 publications

Ethological analysis of predator avoidance by the paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis L.): II. Key stimuli in avoidance learning

Ethological analysis of predator avoidance by the paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis L.): II. Key stimuli in avoidance learning

Fear level and rats’ open-field activity and defecation

Pre-exposure and stimulus choice: Effects of locale

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