Radiation-Induced Conditioned Avoidance Behavior in Rats, Mice, and Cats

Abstract

Association of a distinctive taste stimulus with exposure to x rays results in a conditioned aversion toward the stimulus in rats, mice, and cats. This is manifested by a progressive reduction in the amount of flavored fluid consumed during a series of x-ray exposures and subsequently by the acquired value of the flavored fluid to act as a con- ditioned stiraulus for aversive behavior in the absence of radiation. Saccharin-flavored water was effective as a conditioned stimulus for rats and mice, and chocolateflavored milk was effective for cats. Some implications of these observations for the study of behavior are discussed. (auth)