title: The effect of social isolation of the rat on open field activity and emergence.
abstract: It has been suggested that naive isolated rats show more "fear responses" than group-housed controls. However, in contrast to previous studies, dark conditions and low noise levels were used to evaluate the latency to emerge from a small chamber into an open field and the subsequent ambulation and rearing behaviour of isolated and group-housed rats. The prediction that these conditions would be conducive to the rapid development of hyperactivity in isolates was confirmed, but there were no significant differences in emergence latency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University College of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, West Glam. Great Britain.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dalrymple-Alford
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benton