[Studies on the development of water maze-learning ability in rats (3). Effect of the learning schedule on learning acquisition].
The effect of different learning schedules massed or distributed practice conditions (3 trials a day for 3 days), on water-filled multiple T-maze learning ability of 8-week-old SPF Wistar-Imamichi rats was investigated. Although the mean number of errors decreased day by day in both groups, the number of errors in a given day and the total number of errors in 3 days did not differ significantly between the two groups. A tendency toward a decrease in the number of errors was observed as the trials proceeded in the group with distributed practice but not in the group with massed practice. The result suggests that a certain time period for rest after each trial is necessary to acquire the memory.
Research Laboratories, Torii and Co., Ltd., Chiba, Japan.
N
N
Hasegawa
K
K
Shimamura
K
K
Suzuki
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D007858:Learning; D051381:Rats