Birke L I, Sadler D
Behav Neural Biol. 1986 Jan;45(1):88-106. doi: 10.1016/s0163-1047(86)80009-7.
The present paper reports an investigation of patterns of exploratory behavior shown by laboratory-bred Spiny Mice (Acomys cahirinus) when given access to a large, novel arena. The aim was to test hypotheses suggested by our previous work with this species. Previous experiments in which the exploratory behavior of Acomys was compared with that of Mus had suggested that each species had a characteristic pattern of emergence and exploration. The present experiment addressed the question of whether the exploratory patterns of Acomys could be predicted from patterns of emergence as suggested by earlier experiments. Data are presented which indicate that the exploratory behavior of Acomys in a large, novel arena is reasonably predictable. The data presented include measures of the animal's responses to different stimuli within the novel environment, including novel, conspicuous objects, food sources, and the holding cage to which the animal could return. In addition, the patterns of movement through different areas of the environment were recorded in relation to the behavior of the animal when it was first given access to the arena. The data indicate that there are two types of strategy, or patterns, by which Acomys begin to explore a novel environment. The first type consists of a delayed emergence into the arena, followed by brief excursions into the area immediately adjacent to the holding cage, interspersed with longer periods of returns to the holding cage. The second type involves immediate emergence, followed by rapid "dashes" around the periphery of the arena. Which of the two strategies is adopted appears to depend upon the animal's behavior at the time of initial access. Two subsequent experiments considered these strategies further. Experiment 2 indicated that Type I was more characteristic of males and Type II more characteristic of females, although there were no differences related to the female estrous cycle. In Experiment 3, the patterns of exploration over four consecutive tests were investigated. It was found that the strategy adopted by an individual is likely to be consistent across tests.
本文报告了一项关于实验室饲养的刺毛鼠(埃及刺毛鼠)在进入一个大型新场地时所表现出的探索行为模式的研究。目的是检验我们之前对该物种研究提出的假设。之前将埃及刺毛鼠的探索行为与小家鼠的探索行为进行比较的实验表明,每个物种都有其独特的出现和探索模式。本实验探讨了能否如早期实验所暗示的那样,根据出现模式来预测埃及刺毛鼠的探索模式这一问题。所呈现的数据表明,埃及刺毛鼠在大型新场地中的探索行为具有合理的可预测性。所呈现的数据包括动物对新环境中不同刺激的反应测量,这些刺激包括新奇、显眼的物体、食物来源以及动物可以返回的饲养笼。此外,还记录了动物首次进入场地时在环境不同区域的移动模式与行为的关系。数据表明,埃及刺毛鼠开始探索新环境有两种策略或模式。第一种模式是延迟进入场地,随后短暂进入紧邻饲养笼的区域,其间穿插着较长时间返回饲养笼。第二种模式是立即进入,随后在场地周边快速“飞奔”。采用哪种策略似乎取决于动物首次进入时的行为。随后的两个实验进一步研究了这些策略。实验2表明,模式I更具雄性特征,模式II更具雌性特征,不过与雌性发情周期无关。在实验3中,研究了连续四次测试中的探索模式。发现个体采用的策略在不同测试中可能是一致的。