Fatigue and Stress in Wild and Domestic Rats.
Abstract
The most significant finds previously reported in an interim report are summarized. Special note is taken of additional findings since the time of the interim report bearing on the occurrence of 'psychological' fatigue or 'emotionally' induced convulsions among both wild and domestic animals which are interpreted as substantiating our hypothesis that the treadmill used to induce fatigue in rats constitutes a stressful situation which induces psychological fatigue attended by convulsions in some animals. Instances of breakdowns in the form of convulsive seizures found among some of the domestic subjects have been tentatively classed as conditioned breakdowns, since they occur during the transfer of the animals from a carrying cage to the treadmill, as well as in the treadmill prior to actually starting this fatigue device. The importance of the findings described above is mentioned as meriting further study from both practical and theoretical viewpoints. Further results on a pilot study reported in the interim report relative to the influence of a goal object on increasing resistance of both wild and domestic rats to the onset of fatigue are described. The effects of an early stressful environment on increasing treadmill stamina of both wild and domestic rats are mentioned. A current experiment concerning the effects of conditioned fear responses on treadmill stamina, and/or effects of treadmill running on ease and persistence of a conditioned fear response is described.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1953
- Accession Number
- ADA322681
Entities
People
- William J. Griffiths Jr
Organizations
- University of Mississippi