Noise, Vitamin a Deficiency, and Emotional Behavior in Rats

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of aversive stimulation (loud noise) on the emotionality of rats which were food-deprived, satiated, or vitamin A deficient. Activity (number of squares traversed in an open-field task) and defecation scores comprised the measures of emotion. Significantly more boli were recorded for food-deprived Ss than satiated Ss, while the number of boli for vitamin A deficient Ss was in between. Noise significantly increased the number of boli for all groups. Deprivation conditions, noise-no noise, and the interaction of these variables were all significant on activity scores. Food-deprived Ss were the most active, satiated Ss the least active, and again vitamin A deficient Ss fell in between. Groups were more active with noise. The significant interaction probably resulted from the marked increase in activity by deprived Ss under noise. Thus, aversive stimulation may have greater effect on animals already under stress from food deprivation than on satiated animals.