Probability learning in golden hamsters

Six golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), which have not usually been used as subjects in operant conditioning research, were exposed to a spatial probability learning task in the apparatus with two levers differing in probabilities of reinforcement. Two pairs of probabilities of reinforcement (70...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inDōbutsu shinrigaku kenkyu Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 41 - 47
Main Author SAEKI, Daisuke
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published THE JAPANESE SOCIETY FOR ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGY 1999
Subjects
golden hamsters
lever press
maximizing
probability learning
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Summary:Six golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), which have not usually been used as subjects in operant conditioning research, were exposed to a spatial probability learning task in the apparatus with two levers differing in probabilities of reinforcement. Two pairs of probabilities of reinforcement (70% : 30% and 60% : 40%) were used in a discrete-trials procedure with a noncorrection method. A baseline condition in which subjects were required to respond to each lever equally often was presented prior to each of the first and the second probability conditions. In both probability conditions all the subjects showed maximizing : subjects allocated most of responses to the alternative with a higher probability of reinforcement. The findings reveal that golden hamsters responded in the same way as other species such as rats and pigeons.
ISSN:0916-8419
1880-9022
DOI:10.2502/janip.49.41