| Abstract: | Studied the development of drinking behavior in 3–20 day old Sprague-Dawley rats by tracing their ability to perform progressively more complex components of the drinking act. Even 3-day-old Ss responded to cellular dehydration by actively swallowing intraoral infusions of milk and water or by licking these fluids when they were spread in a thin film across the floor of the test container. Ss were not able to approach and maintain contact with a distant fluid source until 10–25 days of age. By 20 days of age, dehydration reduced the consumption of milk and other types of food (dehydration anorexia). Results show that young Ss were able to respond to dehydration in a manner that resembled the adult response. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
