title: The rat's right-left preference during free exploration of a multiple Y-maze.
abstract: The right-left preference of Wistar, Sprague-Dawley, and Long Evans rats of both sexes was investigated in a multiple Y-maze in which the animals had to perform three consecutive right-left choices in order to go from the common starting point to one of the eight goal arms. The rats were free to explore the maze without being subjected to punishments or rewards. Care was taken to minimize inhibitory influences on exploration (low illumination, no handling to return the rats to home cage). The statistical analysis of the total right-left choices performed by the rats showed that three groups (Wistar females, Sprague-Dawley females, and Long Evans males) exhibited a preference for the right. This preference was not related either to sex or strain, but was possibly a species characteristic.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiologiche, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ambrogi Lorenzini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucherelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falchini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giachetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tassoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012931:Social Environment; D013028:Space Perception