Environmental control of multiple defense responses in a conditioned burying paradigm

• Published in: Journal of comparative psychology (1983) 1983-12, Vol.97 (4), p.338-352
• Main Authors: Moser, Cathy G, Tait, Robert W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal; Animal Defensive Behavior; Animal Environments; Animal Escape Behavior; Conditioned Responses; Rats; Tonic Immobility
• ISSN: 0735-7036; 1939-2087
• DOI: 10.1037/0735-7036.97.4.338

Three experiments with 52 male hooded rats examined the occurrence of conditioned burying, freezing, and escape in a situation in which there was the opportunity to engage in all 3 responses. The objective was to determine the defense response network of the rat in this situation and to document the interaction of different classes of defensive responses. Results of Exp I reveal that the average defensive response network was freezing, escaping, and later burying. In the 2nd and 3rd experiments, the novelty of either the prod or the escape route was manipulated in an attempt to alter the dominance of the defensive responses. It was observed that while the dominance of freezing and escape over burying could not be altered, the variability in defensive response networks and the absolute levels of the defensive responses were manipulable. Alternatives to the existing models of conditioned and unconditioned burying are discussed. (26 ref)