Food-searching strategies in young rats: Win-shift predominates over win-stay.
- 1 August 1978
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology
- Vol. 92 (4) , 609-618
- https://doi.org/10.1037/h0077492
Abstract
The ability of rats to follow different food-searching strategies was examined in a test of spatial memory. In a win-shift procedure, rats were rewarded for choosing locations different from those just chosen, and in a win-stay procedure they were rewarded for returning to the locations just chosen. In a 3rd procedure, rats were rewarded for every choice. The win-shift strategy was learned rapidly and was performed well; the win-stay strategy was learned slowly, if at all. When every choice was rewarded, rats exhibited a preference for following a win-shift strategy. Rats were disposed to follow a win-shift strategy when searching for food. They were able to learn a win-shift procedure better than a win-stay procedure. When any choice produced reward, they preferred to follow a win-shift strategy. The influence of this win-shift disposition on food gathering in the wild, and on performance of laboratory discrimination tasks, was discussed.Keywords
This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- Systematic foraging by a nectar-feeding bird, the amakihi (Loxops virens).Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978
- Positive transfer from successive reversal training to learning set in blue jays ( Cyanocitta cristata ).Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1977
- Effects of maze geometry and experience on exploratory behavior in the ratLearning & Behavior, 1976
- Stereotypy and Variability of Behavior in a Complex Learning SituationPsychological Reports, 1966
- Effect of Unconsumed Reward on Subsequent Alternation of ChoicePsychological Reports, 1964