The acceptability of tap water and distilled water to nonthirsty rats.
- 1 January 1956
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology
- Vol. 49 (4) , 336-338
- https://doi.org/10.1037/h0088028
Abstract
Twelve non-thirsty rats, previously trained to run on the preference tester, selected tap water in preference to distilled water when given a series of choices. Five of the 12 animals revealed a preference for tap water significant at the .01 level or better; no rat in the group showed a preference for distilled water. The same animals, when thirsty, ran more actively upon the apparatus but they did not discriminate between the two kinds of drinking water. It is claimed that tap water is more palatable to rats than distilled water. The mechanism of choice is not clear nor is it understood why the animals ran at all for a water incentive when they were not thirsty.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
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- Studies of food preference, appetite and dietary habit. I. Running activity and dietary habit of the rat in relation to food preference.Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1944
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