Abstract
The effects of five to six weeks of social isolation after weaning on the open-field behavior of ICR male mice were examined using a direct observational method. Except for two behavioral components, namely, stretching and grooming, the isolated and grouped animals showed similar behavioral changes in the 10-min open-field test. The rate of decrease of stretching in the first four minutes was significantly lower in isolated than in grouped animals. Grooming significantly increased in the last four minutes in isolated animals but not in grouped animals. These results suggested that the deprivation of social experiences during a juvenile period might enhance anxiety or stress responses and inhibit habituation in a novel environment.
