Effects of Differential Early Experiences and Neonatal Tranquilization on Later Behavior

Abstract

Neonatal rats were exposed to one of 3 environmental stimulus conditions (Control, Mechanical Rotation, and Hypothermia) and one of 4 drug injection groups (Control, Placebo, Chlorpromazine, and Reserpine) from 2 to 10 days of age. Later behavior testing at 30 days of age indicated an inverted U-shaped activity level for the 2 drug control groups over the environmental treatments, no differences for CPZ, and hyperactivity for all reserpine-treated Ss. The Rotation and Hypothermia tranquilization drug Ss made more errors than the corresponding control Ss in the water maze. Various neonatal early experiences and drug treatments differentially affect the adult Ss' responses in testing situations.