Performance characteristics of maze learning in mice selected for high and low brain weight.

A series of 3 experiments with a total of 53 mice of the BWS-H and BWS-L strains used the Lashley Type III maze to test these Ss (selected for high and low brain weight) for differences in rate of learning and type of response pattern and to assess performance differences at 2 ages and with water or saccharin reinforcement. There were no differences in standard learning measures between the brain-weight lines; however, the lines did differ in the nature of their response patterns as a function of age (weanling or adult) and type of reinforcement. Data indicate that brain-weight lines characteristically differ in their response to a reinforcer not clearly dependent on need state (saccharin) and in their performance pattern at different developmental periods. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)