An animal restraint for the study of high-resistance operants in the rat

William M. Beneke1, Benjamin F. Timson1
1Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Lincoln University, Jefferson City

Tóm tắt

An animal restraint system and response operandum suitable for the study of operant behavior in the rat is described. This system combined with an inexpensive Commodore microcomputer and Psychronix interface is well-suited for the study of response parameters. Rats voluntarily entered the restraint, showed no observable signs of excess stress, and were easily extricated at the end of the experimental session. A lever-pressing operant with an adjustable force requirement was readily shaped using automated procedures. Although this system was designed for the study of high-resistance operants, it has potential advantages for other operant applications, including studies of visual discrimination and experiments requiring restraint due to physiological recording.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Azrin, N. H., Hopwood, J., &Powell, J. (1967). A rat chamber and electrode procedure for avoidance conditioning.Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,10, 291–298. Commodore Business Machines, Inc. (1982).Commodore 64 programmer’s reference guide. Westchester, PA: Author. Crossman, E. K. (1984). An inexpensive operant chamber interface for the VIC 20 microcomputer.Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers,16, 338–340. Dallemagne, G., &Richelle, M. (1970). Titration schedule with rats in a restraining device.Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,13, 339–348. Gonyea, W. J., &Ericson, G. C. (1976). Experimental model for study of exercise-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy.Journal of Applied Physiology,40, 630–633. Hall, R. D., Clayton, R. J., &Mark, R. G. (1966). A device for the partial restraint of rats in operant conditioning studies.Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,9, 143–145. Ho, K. W., Roy, R. R., Tweedle, C. D., Heusner, W. W., Van Huse, W. D., &Carrow, R. E. (1980). Skeletal muscle fiber splitting with weight lifting exercise in rats.American Journal of Anatomy,157, 433–440. Kutgaard, H. (1988). A model for quantitative strength training of hindlimb muscles of the rat.Journal of Applied Physiology,64, 1740–1745. Skinner, B. F. (1938).The behavior of organisms. New York: Appleton. Skinner, B. F. (1979).The shaping of a behaviorist. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Wong, T. S., &Booth, F. W. (1988). Skeletal muscle enlargement with weight-lifting exercise by rats.Journal of Applied Physiology,65, 950–954.