Abstract
Sprague-Dawley albino rats were reared in one of three social environments: isolation, low density, or high density. Baseline activity, measured by photobeam crossings in a 15-min session, was assessed for 16 consecutive days. The response to 1 and 10 mg/kg of scopolamine and .05 and .1 mg/kg of physostigmine was then assessed. It was found that isolated animals were more active than socially reared animals, and that this isolation-induced increased activity was not eliminated with repeated handling and behavioral testing. The activity of the animals in a low-density of group was not significantly greater than that of animals raised in a high-density group. Scopolamine and physostigmine were both found to decrease activity, but there was not a differential effect of the drugs on animals raised in the three social environments. It was concluded that tactile stimulation does not alter the effects of isolation-rearing and that a baseline activity level can be established for the investigation of the physiological bases of the behavioral effects of isolation-rearing.
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Leicht, K. L., King, J. F., & Harvey, M. J. Effects ofpopulation density and living space on learning performance. Paper presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Meeting, 1973, New York.
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This work was partially supported by Grant 5T32MH14286-02 from the National Institutes of Health. The authors wish to thank Bruce Gelotte for his valuable assistance in conducting this experiment and Ms. Kenny McClain for preparing the manuscript.
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Morley, B.J., Worsham, E. The effects of prolonged handling, scopolamine, and physostigmine on the activity of isolated and socially reared rats. Psychobiology 6, 83–88 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326698
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326698