Rearing Variations and Hebb-Williams Maze Performance

Abstract

Rats were kept in 1 of 3 environments from 21 to 81 days of age. The environments varied from one that changed very little across days (impoverishment) to one that changed daily (“super-enrichment”). At 110 and 190 days of age, Ss were given batteries of tests in the Hebb-Williams maze. The first tests were preceded by pretraining habituation to testing and the second tests were preceded by pretraining and maze running. There were large differences among the groups on the first battery of tests, with Ss from the enriched environments being superior problem-solvers. Performance varied little among groups on the second battery of tests. All Ss' performance improved with continued testing but those of “impoverishment” improved most. Task-related experience can reduce individual differences.