Odor production and utilization as a function of Elavil injection.

Abstract

Traditional animal learning theories have predominantly been based upon research which failed to account for the influence of odor cues exuded by animal subjects. A review of the literature clearly indicated that odor cues are a scientifically viable phenomenon and that such cues should be incorporated into the theoretical framework of factors involved in animal learning. The present study sought to contribute to the general body of knowledge concerning odor-based responding by investigating the effects of Elavil on double-alternation patterning in albino rats. The runway performances of Elavilinjected Subjects were compared to those of saline-injected Subjects. All Subjects were run contiguously (in fixed order), under a double-alternating (i.e., RRNNRRNN) sequence of goal events. A second phase, during which the drug injection conditions were reversed, was included as part of the experimental design. It was shown that subjects trained under the effects of Elavil did not display patterned responding during the first phase, but did develop double-alternation patterning when they were shifted to the saline-injection condition in Phase 2. On the other hand, saline-trained subjects patterned appropriately in the first phase, and maintained that patterning when they were shifted to the Elavil-injection condition in Phase 2. These results were discussed in light of the proposed ceiling-effect hypothesis and frustration theory.