Visual distance discrimination in the rat.

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Abstract
A modification of the Howard-Dolman or rod test of visual distance discrimination was employed with 12 hooded and 12 albino rats. The Ss were initially trained to choose the alley which contained the nearer of two pegs, food being the reward. The test situation used the method of constant stimulus differences with a standard of 10 in. and 10 variable distances. The results show a positive relation between the magnitude of the variables and percentages of "farther than" responses. It was inferred that the rats were making visual distance discriminations, since successful responses could be made consistently only through the cue given by the relative distance of the pegs. Kinesthetic, tactual, and brightness cues were controlled. Hooded rats showed greater sensitivity to relative distance than albino rats. Further tests with albino rats indicated that in this mode of discrimination stimulus generalization occurs.

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