Journal of Applied Physiology
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J Appl Physiol 18: 1016-1018, 1963;
8750-7587/63 $5.00
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Learning in hypothermic rats

J. A. Panuska 1 and Vojin Popovic 1

1 Department of Physiology, Emory University Medical School, Atlanta, Georgia

Inexperienced shaved adult white rats cooled to a colonic temperature of 18.5 C and then rewarmed to 26.0 C, were placed at an ambient temperature of 2.0 C with the possibility of using a lever-activated heat reinforcement apparatus. Their body temperatures leveled at 29 C; and during the next 40–80 min the rats either learned to press the lever systematically for external heat and thereby rewarmed themselves to euthermia, or they drifted into deeper hypothermia leading to death. Activity records and visual observations indicate that after an average of 48 min and at a body temperature of 29.6 C (28.5–30.2 C), out of a group of 14 rats 12 learned this technique necessary for their survival. All 12 rats reached euthermia and continued to use the lever as long as they remained in the experimental situation. It is concluded that learning is possible even at a low body temperature of 29.6 C.

performance; heat reinforcement; temperature regulation; body temperature; environmental temperature; operant behavior; survival studies; motivation; physiology of learning; cold physiology

Submitted on March 7, 1963






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