Description
In psychology, the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) is used as a spatial task that requires the selection of an efficient route among multiple targets. One strategy rats may use to solve the TSP is the nearest neighbor strategy. This technique is founded on two key assumptions: first, that rats possess the perceptual acuity to compare relative target distances, and secondly, that they are motivated to select routes that optimize efficiency. This study aims to investigate rats' ability to compare relative distances of targets. Each rat underwent eight trials, five in an open maze and three in a T-maze. Each rat began in a start box, and was given a choice between two targets, each containing one or more cocoa pebbles. The two choices differed in distance, number of treats, or both. Trials were recorded via video camera. Statistical analyses were completed to explore the relationships between latency, quantity of cocoa pebbles, distance to the target, and sex. The trial latency in both open and T-maze’s decreased significantly over time. The difference in choice distance significantly influenced the probability of choosing each side, but preliminary analysis of the difference in quantity suggests no effect of quantity.
Rat Spatial Discounting and Value Appraisal
In psychology, the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) is used as a spatial task that requires the selection of an efficient route among multiple targets. One strategy rats may use to solve the TSP is the nearest neighbor strategy. This technique is founded on two key assumptions: first, that rats possess the perceptual acuity to compare relative target distances, and secondly, that they are motivated to select routes that optimize efficiency. This study aims to investigate rats' ability to compare relative distances of targets. Each rat underwent eight trials, five in an open maze and three in a T-maze. Each rat began in a start box, and was given a choice between two targets, each containing one or more cocoa pebbles. The two choices differed in distance, number of treats, or both. Trials were recorded via video camera. Statistical analyses were completed to explore the relationships between latency, quantity of cocoa pebbles, distance to the target, and sex. The trial latency in both open and T-maze’s decreased significantly over time. The difference in choice distance significantly influenced the probability of choosing each side, but preliminary analysis of the difference in quantity suggests no effect of quantity.
Comments
Faculty Mentor: Rachel Blaser