The role of line-of-sight in operant experiments using food reinforcers in guinea pigs

IF 1.5 4区生物学 Q4 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES Behavioural Processes Pub Date : 2025-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-04-15 DOI:10.1016/j.beproc.2025.105189

Kristie E. Cameron, Cameron Hoult, Thomas W. Walker

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Abstract

The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a species utilized as a model in laboratory science and is a popular companion animal. The study aimed to assess the role of line-of-sight with a food reinforcer in the ramp climbing behaviour of guinea pigs. Ten guinea pigs climbed a ramp of increasing slopes to gain a reinforcer in two conditions. The experimental condition provided constant line-of-sight with the food reinforcer at any angle, via a mirror placed at the top of the ramp. The control condition did not have a mirror. The results showed that guinea pigs had shorter climbing durations and reached ramp heights of up to 63 centimetres, when line-of-sight with the food was maintained. In comparison, ramp climbing was initially faster, but guinea pigs did not climb beyond a height of 18 centimetres in the control condition. The findings highlight the importance of ensuring visual access to reinforcers in behavioural studies and to inform husbandry practices such as providing guidance when ramps are used to enhance enclosures.

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视线在豚鼠食物强化实验中的作用

豚鼠（Cavia porcellus）是一种在实验室科学中用作模型的物种，是一种受欢迎的伴侣动物。该研究旨在评估视线与食物强化剂在豚鼠爬坡行为中的作用。在两种情况下，10只豚鼠爬上不断增加的斜坡以获得强化物。在实验条件下，通过放置在坡道顶部的镜子，食物强化剂在任何角度都能保持恒定的视线。控制条件下没有镜子。结果表明，当与食物保持视线距离时，豚鼠的攀爬时间较短，爬坡高度可达63厘米。相比之下，在坡道上爬得更快，但在控制条件下，豚鼠爬的高度不超过18厘米。研究结果强调了在行为研究中确保强化物的视觉通道的重要性，并为畜牧业实践提供信息，例如在使用坡道来加强围栏时提供指导。

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来源期刊

Behavioural Processes 生物-动物学

CiteScore

2.70

自引率

7.70%

发文量

144

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Behavioural Processes is dedicated to the publication of high-quality original research on animal behaviour from any theoretical perspective. It welcomes contributions that consider animal behaviour from behavioural analytic, cognitive, ethological, ecological and evolutionary points of view. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and papers that integrate theory and methodology across disciplines are particularly welcome.