Passive and active avoidance in the gerbil: Effects of sex and transfer of training

Abstract

The present experiment failed to obtain evidence of sex-related differences in either avoidance performance or activity levels in the Mongolian gerbil. Transfer of training between active and passive avoidance tasks was found, however, with negative transfer obtained in gerbils on a passive avoidance task following active shuttlebox avoidance acquisition, and positive transfer reported in animals in active avoidance learning following passive avoidance training. Possible reasons for these asymmetrical transfer effects were discussed. © 1977, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.