Neglected aspects of exploratory and investigatory behavior

Abstract

This paper consists of a review of the literature on exploratory and investigatory behavior, with special attention to aspects of behavior that are clearly part of exploration and about which little is known. In accord with previous examinations of exploration, it is argued that exploration serves the function of information gathering. In addition, it is contended that the devlopment of comprehensive models of exploration would serve to benefit greatly both the study of basic processes in cognition and studies of the neurobiology of learning and memory. Most data available as of this writing focus on the spatial character of exploration, but the open-field test most commonly used has serious conceptual and methodological flaws, which are discussed. A larger problem lies in the scarcity of knowledge about other aspects of exploration—that is, investigation of objects. Finally, this paper argues the need for extensive descriptive information about the spontaneous exploratory behavior of rats. Such an account, if available, could be used as benchmark data for establishing the basic behavioral units in spontaneous investigation and for studying the effects of diverse central nervous system interventions on behaviors previously shown to be involved in the acquisition of new information—that is, learning. © 1990, Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.