Volume discrimination learning in golden hamsters: effects of the structure of complex rearing cages.
Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were reared from birth to adulthood in a spatially diversified situation (EG); their performances were compared with those of other hamsters housed in standard laboratory cages (SG). The task was to discriminate between 2 cubic volumes of different sizes followed by various test situations designed to define the respective parts played by the 3 spatial dimensions during perception. The results show that surfaces of volumes were mainly taken into account by EG subjects whereas width, alone, was used by the SG animals.
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D003463:Cues; D003867:Depth Perception; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D012931:Social Environment; D013028:Space Perception; D014163:Transfer, Psychology