Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id IAA03401 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 26 Jan 2001 08:06:26 GMT Message-ID: <A4400389479FD3118C9400508B0FF230010D1A80@DELTA.newhouse.akzonobel.nl> From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: MIT research reports rats dream of mazes Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 08:58:52 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Here you go, Lawrence:
This is apparently in Japanese, so there's no point me ordering it from the
library, but I think the abstract is fairly clear. So it is possible to
selectively breed lines of clever and dim rats. But there's no indication
here of what steps were taken to prevent the rats somehow culturally
acquiring the maze learning ability. It just isn't an issue that arises, as
it is simply assumed that rats are a culture-free zone. I'll keep looking.
Jikken Dobutsu 1984 Oct;33(4):471-9
[The effects of rat selection and reproduction on learning ability in the
offspring].
[Article in Japanese]
Yamada T, Uchida H, Nishiyama T
We studied the effect of selective reproduction on rats purchased from a
breeder, so as to detect learning impairments in their offspring. The parent
rats selected for mating were categorized as bright or dull in terms of
learning ability on the basis of a learning test in a water maze or passive
avoidance response (PAR). Offspring were tested in the same way as the
selected rats, with their responses being compared for each generation. 1.
The matings, consisting of bright X bright, bright X dull, dull X bright,
dull X dull, resulted in a significant increase in the number of dull
offspring of dull X dull from parents selected by water maze or PAR learning
test. 2. Bright or dull mothers selected by PAR learning were treated with
chlorpromazine 6 mg/kg (2 times/day/s.c.) on the 13th day of gestation.
Afterwards, a slight increase in dull offspring of dull parents was seen. 3.
These results indicate that in order to evaluate the learning ability of F1
in a reproductive test, it is first necessary to check the reaction of the
parents, purchased F0, and to classify them as bright or dull.
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