Blocking of spatial control by landmarks in rats.
We investigated spatial blocking among landmarks in an open-field foraging task in rats. In Phase 1, rats were presented with A+ trials during which landmark (LM) A signaled the location of hidden food. In Phase 2, rats were given AX+ trials in which LM X served as a redundant spatial cue to the location of food. Additionally, BY+ trials were given as a within-subjects overshadowing-control procedure. At test, rats received nonreinforced presentations of LM X and LM Y on separate trials. Rats took longer to find the training goal location in the presence of LM X than of LM Y, thereby demonstrating that spatial control by LM X was blocked by prior learning with LM A. This constitutes the first evidence in rats for spatial blocking of one proximal landmark by another-approximating a conventional blocking design.
University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, United States.
W David
WD
Stahlman
Aaron P
AP
Blaisdell
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D018782:Maze Learning; D051381:Rats / Q000523:psychology*; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013028:Space Perception; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D013997:Time Factors