Data Archive of the Animal
Cognition Lab
Catalog Number: 0009
Title: Evidence for an Alternation Strategy in Time-Place Learning
Reference: Pizzo, M.J. & Crystal, J.D. (2004). Evidence for an Alternation Strategy in Time-Place Learning. Behavioural Processes, 67, 533-537.
Note: For list of assignment of rats to conditions see below.
ABSTRACT
Many different conclusions concerning what type of mechanism rats use to solve a daily time-place task have emerged in the literature. The purpose of this study was to test three competing explanations of time-place discrimination. Rats (n=10) were tested twice daily in a T-maze, separated by approximately 7 hours. Food was available at one location in the morning and another location in the afternoon. After the rats learned to visit each location at the appropriate time, tests were omitted to evaluate whether the rats were utilizing time of day (i.e., a circadian oscillator) or an alternation strategy (i.e., visiting a correct location is a cue to visit the next location). Performance on this test was significantly lower than chance, ruling out the use of time of day. A phase advance of the light cycle was conducted to test the alternation strategy and timing with respect to the light cycle (i.e., an interval timer). There was no difference between probe and baseline performance. These results suggest that the rats used an alternation strategy to meet the temporal and spatial contingencies in the time-place task.
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Last updated 30 July 2004
