| Abstract: | Compared the behavior of light- and dark-reared Long-Evans hooded rats (N = 1,786) at 20-160 days of age in 3 experiments using a visual cliff apparatus in which the depth of the deep side could be varied. Differential depth thresholds obtained revealed no significant difference at 20 days in perceptual ability due to rearing condition. Both groups showed improvement in depth perception over the next 40-60 days. Dark-reared Ss did not improve at the same rate nor acquire the same degree of discriminative ability as did light-reared Ss. The performance of light-reared Ss leveled off after 100 days, but dark-reared Ss' ability deteriorated. Results are discussed in terms of further specification of the effects of visual deprivation on perceptual capacities. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
