Contextual factors in neophobia and its habituation: the role of absolute and relative novelty.
In four experiments we investigated the role of contextual cues in the habituation of neophobia in rats. Experiment 1 showed that the consumption of a novel flavour increased across a series of presentations in one context (A) but fell when the flavour was subsequently presented in a second, novel, context (B). In Experiments 2 and 3, subjects again received exposure to a flavour in context A, but also were familiarized with the test context, B. These subjects consumed the flavour with equal readiness, whether it was presented in Context A or in Context B at test. Experiment 4 replicated the results of Experiment 1 and also showed that the consumption of a novel flavour was not influenced by whether it was presented in a novel or a familiar context. Several mechanisms by which the novelty or familiarity of the context might interact with the novelty or familiarity of the flavour were discussed.
Honey
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RC
Department of Psychology, University of York, U.K.
Pye
C
C
Lightbown
Y
Y
Rey
V
V
Hall
G
G
D000818:Animals; D003463:Cues; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats