Food deprivation and locomotor exploration in the white rat

Abstract 10 food-deprived rats and 10 non-deprived rats were observed for 15 minutes each in an exploration box allowing free choice between novel and familiar units. Although all subjects showed a preference for novelty, there were no significant differences in these preferences between the two groups as measured by the number of 10-second periods spent in the novel half of the box and by the percentage of novel units entered. However, the food-deprived rats entered a significantly greater total number of units. It was concluded that, contrary to earlier studies, food deprivation had not effected exploration of novelty but had possibly influenced activity of some origin other than strict exploratory tendencies.