Fear level and rats’ open-field activity and defecation

Abstract

Two tests were made of Lester’s suggestion that rats’ open-field activity is an inverted U-shaped function of fear level. The first examined the relation between activity and defecation. The second test examined the relation between a possible low-level fear manipulation (estrus phase) and activity level. Both tests failed to support the suggestion. © 1970, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.