Effects of warmth on newborn rats' motor activity and oral responsiveness to an artificial nipple.
Temperature is a powerful regulator of the behavior and physiology of newborn altricial animals. The effects of warmth on newborn rats' oral responsiveness to suckling stimuli and spontaneous motor activity in a thermoneutral environment were investigated. Newborn rat pups' oral grasp responses to an artificial nipple and overall motor activity were recorded for 18 min. Near-term pups were delivered by cesarean section so that their 1st experiences with suckling stimuli could be observed. Experimental pups were warmed for 15 s every 2 min; control pups were not warmed. Warmed pups grasped the nipple fewer times than the not-warmed pups. However, oral grasp durations became longer for the warmed pups but not for the not-warmed pups. Warmth increased pups' motor activity but only while the heat was applied. Warmth in a thermoneutral environment may promote longer nipple attachment during newborns' early feeding experiences.
Bacher
L F
LF
Department of Psychology, Binghamton University.
Smotherman
W P
WP
Robertson
S S
SS
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013823:Thermoreceptors / Q000502:physiology