Sound and light preference behaviour in naive adult rats

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Abstract
An alternation procedure, over 18 × 20 min. trials, was used to investigate the preference for one of two levels of ambient light intensity (light or darkness) or one of two levels of sound intensity, in naive adult rats. A response (bar press) produced a change in the ambient stimulus intensity from one level to the other. The number of responses for change and the time spent in the two stimulus intensity levels were recorded. No preference for either sound level emerged. A slight preference for light as opposed to darkness developed over trials. More responses were made for a light change than for a sound change. These results from naive animals are in agreement with earlier work on sound and light preferences examined in rats which had had extensive previous experience with responding for sensory change. The results support the contention that where behaviour is reinforced by response contingent sensory change, preference for a particular intensity of stimulation is not a significant factor in the behaviour.