Mamedov Z, Hernandez-Mesa N, Bures J
Physiol Behav. 1987;39(2):153-60. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(87)90004-7.
The efficiency of the neural control of licking was assessed in rats (n = 6) allowed 30-min daily access to water in a box equipped with two retractable drinking spouts. After completion of a photoelectrically monitored lick, the contacted spout was withdrawn by an electromechanical device which simultaneously made the other spout available at an adjacent wall opening. Although economy of behavior required the animals to lick at each spout only once, computer monitored licking showed that the rats emitted 2.9 +/- 0.2 and 2.5 +/- 0.1 licks per spout presentation (LPSP) on the first and fifth days of training, respectively. The transition time between spouts and the interlick interval were not significantly changed. Separation of the spouts by a vertical partition extending 24 mm into the box prolonged the transition time and increased LPSP to 3.9 and 3.3 on Days 1 and 4 of training, respectively. These values were not changed when the length of the partition was increased to 40 mm. The failure of rats to maximize reward by emitting single licks probably reflects limited control of the generator of licking and/or the tendency to avoid its frequent switching on and off.
在配备两个可伸缩饮水嘴的盒子中，让大鼠（n = 6）每天有30分钟的时间接触水，以此评估舔舐行为的神经控制效率。在光电监测到一次舔舐动作完成后，接触过的饮水嘴会通过机电装置缩回，同时使另一个饮水嘴在相邻的壁孔处可用。尽管行为的经济性要求动物每个饮水嘴只舔舐一次，但计算机监测的舔舐行为显示，在训练的第一天和第五天，大鼠每次饮水嘴呈现时分别发出2.9±0.2次和2.5±0.1次舔舐（LPSP）。饮水嘴之间的转换时间和舔舐间隔没有显著变化。用一个垂直隔板将饮水嘴隔开，隔板伸进盒子24毫米，这延长了转换时间，并使训练第一天和第四天的LPSP分别增加到3.9和3.3。当隔板长度增加到40毫米时，这些数值没有改变。大鼠未能通过单次舔舐来最大化奖励，这可能反映出对舔舐动作发生器的控制有限和/或避免其频繁开关的倾向。
