EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION ON QUININE TOLERANCE

Changes in behavior that occur after social isolation of rats might result from a change in reactivity to stimulation. This hypothesis predicts that isolated female rats will exaggerate their normal responses to preferred and to non-preferred stimuli, thus drinking less of a quinine solution and more tap water than non-isolated animals during the half-hour test period. In fact, isolated rats did drink less quinine solution than rats housed in community cages, but the prediction for tap water was not confirmed. © 1969.