Odor Preferences in Neonatal and Weanling Rats.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1998
Keywords
olfaction, odor preference, banana, orange, lemon, peppermint, pups, weanlings, learning
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2302(199809)33:2%3C157::AID-DEV6%3E3.0.CO;2-I
Abstract
In order to establish odors which can be used in appetitive and aversive conditioning paradigms, naive rat pups, postnatal day 7 (i.e., PND 7) and weanlings (PND 25), were placed in a rectangular open field with an odorant at one or both ends. Time spent over each odor was measured for 3 min. At both ages subjects avoided peppermint, orange, and lemon odors in favor of fresh home‐cage bedding. Comparing any of these three odorants with each other resulted in no significant differences in preferences. In experiments using banana odorant, equal time was spent between banana and no odorant. However, in a two‐odorant choice between banana and peppermint, weanlings preferred banana whereas pups showed no preference. The results of this study indicate that in an appetitive learning paradigm, peppermint, orange, or lemon odors may be used, while in aversive learning paradigms banana odor may be more appropriate for weanlings.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Developmental Psychobiology, v. 33, issue 2, p. 157-162
Scholar Commons Citation
Amiri, Leila; Dark, Tyra; Noce, Kimberly M.; and Kirstein, Cheryl L., "Odor Preferences in Neonatal and Weanling Rats." (1998). Psychology Faculty Publications. 823.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/823
