Effects of Aging on Open Field Behavior

Bibliographic Data

ID13673263
AuthorsJack Werboff (Animal Behavior Laboratory, Lafayette Clinic and Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, corresponding author), Joan Havlena (Animal Behavior Laboratory, Lafayette Clinic and Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan)
Year1962
Volume10
Issue2
Pages395-398
Publication date1962-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2466/pr0.1962.10.2.395
OpenAlexW2001935470
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited3

In a recent report by Furchtgott, et al. ( 1961 ), exploratory behavior in an open field situation was found to decrease with increasing age. These investigators used naive animals at each age of testing and terminated their study at 390 days of age. The present investigation confirms some of the findings of the above mentioned report, utilizing a different experimental design with repeated testing of the same animals to demonstrate chat the age factor is more important than the novelty of the experience. Additional data on animals tested at an older age and on sex differences are presented for the open field measures. METHOD Sabjects.-Ss were 28 albino rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain purchased from the Holtzman Co. The original group of 12 females and 16 males was reduced by death, disease, and other attrition factors to 12 females and 8 males on whom open field measures at each age were available. Animals were maintained on Purina laboratory chow and water ad libitam throughout their lifetime except for 3 weeks as 100 days of age during which time they were on a 23-hr. water deprivation schedule. Animals arrived in the laboratory at 45 days of age and were routinely weighed and handled at least once a week. At 100 days of age and after the first open field test, they were rested in a maze learning situation. At 360 days of age, attempts were made at macing the animals. Aside from these manipulations, each S received little or no handling and lived his routine life with a same sex cagemate. Apparatzrs and procedure.-The open field test used and the procedure employed was similar to that described by Stern (1956). T he apparatus was 3 by 5 ft., painted black and divided into 15 1-ft. squares marked by a chalk line. Lighting was uniform from overhead and the animals were observed through a one-way vision window. Animals were run for 5 consecutive daily 2-min. trials when 90, 180, 360, and 540 days of age. The number of squares traversed and the number of emotional activities such as defecating, urinating, edging, face washing, rearing, crouching, etc. were recorded

Cognitive psychology · Field (mathematics · Animal testing and alternatives · Mathematics · Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies · Psychology

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