Abstract
A forced-choice procedure in T-maze designed for the induction of habits was used to induce strong habits in rats. The response choices of rats in 20 free-choice trials were compared after the rats had been subjected to 1 or 200 forced-choice trials to one side of the T-maze. After 200 forced-choice trials the rats showed a significant (p<.001) propensity for the habitual arm of the maze in the subsequent free-choice trials. The habit was at least as pronounced when analysed over the last 10 free-choice trials as when it was analysed over the first 10 free-choice trials. When the rats were given the opportunity to explore the entire maze immediately before the free-choice challenge after 200 forced-choice trials, this resulted in a large variation in the choice pattern of the individual rats, and a subgroup of rats choose the newly opened maze arm in 95-100% of the 20 free-choice trials.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Behavioural Processes |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 104-7 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| ISSN | 0376-6357 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |