Effect of age on development and behaviour in albino rats

Abstract

Reports the effects of aging on certain developmental and behavioral processes in 148 albino rats. Brother and sister rats of a closed colony stock were assigned to 5 age groups which were tested at, respectively, 90 days, 180 days, 270 days, 360 days, and 450 days. The relatively higher weight gain by males as against females indicated the process of sexual selection. Age did not affect the general activity and autonomic reactivity scores. However, on the 2 measures of learning including response latency in escape/avoidance conditioning and response rate, the performance of the younger animals was found to be superior to that of older animals.