Date of Completion
6-15-2018
Embargo Period
5-21-2018
Advisors
Etan Markus, John Salamone, Ian Stevenson
Field of Study
Psychological Sciences
Degree
Master of Science
Open Access
Open Access
Abstract
Observational, or imitative, learning is a vital skill for survival. This type of social learning plays an important role in human development (e.g. Bandura), but is also relevant for other species.
We have developed an observational learning paradigm in which rats must learn the location of food in a T-shaped maze through observation. This is a working memory task with the correct goal changing on a daily basis. Therefore, the observer must attend to the demonstrator rat’s performance on a daily or continuous basis.
F344 rats can be trained to observe the location of food on a T-maze before being placed on the maze. In addition, our results suggest that the performance of the observed animal affects the performance of the observing animal. Animals which observe an error perform significantly worse than animals which observe no errors, specifically when there are less trials to observe.
This behavioral paradigm serves as a novel way to assess observational learning in animals. Additionally, this paradigm is particularly useful for neuroscience experiments which aim to determine the neural mechanisms of observational learning.
Recommended Citation
Troha, Ryan, "Observational Learning Of A Changing Goal Location In Rats" (2018). Master's Theses. 1245.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/gs_theses/1245
Major Advisor
Etan Markus