A Characteristic Pattern of Active Avoidance Behavior in SART-Stressed Rats

Abstract

In SART-stressed (repeated cold-stressed) rats, shuttle-avoidance response was examined. The rats exposed to SART stress prior to training showed a high avoidance rate and no change in the intertrial response. Upon exposure to SART stress after completion of learning, the rats showed no change in the avoidance rate and an increase in the intertrial response in the retention test. These results are in contrast to the previous observations of passive avoidance response, and the abnormal behavior in such animals may be based on excessive emotionality and/or hyperreactivity rather than alterations in the process of learning and memory.