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Talapoin and squirrel monkeys were compared on measures of water consumption, general activity, manipulation of objects, and acquisition of a spontaneous learning task. The talapoin consumed a large amount of water per kilogram of body weight compared to the squirrel monkey. The talapoin also was very active and manipulated objects whereas the squirrel monkey was inactive and did not manipulate objects. Furthermore, the talapoin demonstrated a marked superiority on a spontaneous learning task. It is suggested that the talapoin is an excellent alternative to Saimiri in most behavioral tasks requiring a high level of responsiveness.

A dose-response analysis of systemic injections of ethanol on appetitive behaviors indicated that low doses facilitated responding in food-motivated fixed ratio and DRL tasks without parallel increases in food consumption or general activity. Higher doses of ethanol produced the expected depression of all behaviors examined. The results were discussed in terms of the possible differential sensitivity of different behavioral processes and/or brain areas to the effects of the drug.

Thompson (1963) has demonstrated that Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) will learn to swim through a ring if this response is immediately followed by mirror-image presentation. The present study successfully repeats this demonstration and shows, through the use of yoked-control (mirror-image noncontingent) and operant-control (mirror-image absent) groups, that the effect cannot be accounted for by an enhancement of general activity, though such a factor appears to exert a small, though not insignificant, effect on operant responding.

The subsequent effects on general activity of nonreward for a previously rewarded response were explored using a runway and an open field. The field served as a goalbox for the runway and a device for the measurement of general activity. Both ambulation and rearing were energized by nonreward but unlike the durable effect on learned responses, the energization of general activity was temporary.

Random-bred mice from a five-way cross of inbred strains were tested in the open field, running wheel, and food competition tests, various measures were intercorrelated to determine the associations between these behaviors. The results indicated that food competition behavior was positively associated with early running wheel activity, negatively correlated with open-field defecation, and negatively correlated with body weight measures. There was no association between open-field activity and food competition. It was suggested that food competition behavior is partly determined by general activity and emotionality.

Activity following nonreward in a single runway was measured, using a stabilimeter as the floor of the goalbox. Performance of partially reinforced Ss was compared to activity of continuously rewarded and never rewarded control groups. A substantial frustration effect was found above control group levels, establishing the validity of this procedure for measuring frustration produced by nonreward in terms of increments in general activity.

Following a 16-day period of habilitation to the activity wheel under conditions preventing direct reinforcement of the wheel-running response by ingestion the activity of 20 male albino rats was observed during 72 hr. of continuous food and water deprivation. Activity increased as a function of deprivation, thus supporting the notion that appetitive drive exerts a directly energizing effect upon behavior.

Rats injected with 4.0 or 8.0 mg/kg of methylphenidate prior to observation in a four-cell exploration box showed a significant preference for the less novel half of the apparatus and a reduction in eating and drinking compared with control animals injected with sterile water. The higher dosage also decreased freezing behavior but increased sniffing and the total number of cells entered. While confirming some previous findings, the results emphasized the need in drug studies for distinguishing between exploratory responses directed towards novel environmental stimuli and randomized, nondirected general activity.

Previous research has suggested that decrements in curiosity, following overstimulation, may be due to increases in general activity. The present study attempted to define the relationship between hyperstimulation and activity in male and female animals. Animals were preexposed to 30 sec of intense strobe light before being allowed access to an open field. Control animals did not have this preexposure. The procedure was repeated over a 3-day period. The results indicated a significant increase in general activity following hyperstimulation. There were no significant differential effects of hyperstimulation upon males vs females.

Rats with electrodes in the septal region of the brain received noncontingent, reinforcing stimulation while bar pressing for food and for water on variable ratio schedules. Rate of pressing for water was found to be significantly reduced as a function of intracranial stimulation. No significant differences were found between stimulation and nonstimulation periods for Ss reinforced with food. The data revealed no change in general activity as a function of the electrical stimulation.

Following training in a runway, two groups of rats were either confined in the goal box for 20 sec. during extinction trials or permitted to immediately jump out of the goal box. Contrary to the predictions of the interference theory, there were no differences between the groups in resistance to extinction. Within the jump group there was a moderate degree of covariation between jump frequency and resistance to extinction. However, this relationship can be explained by differences in general activity level rather than response interference.

An earlier investigation of the underwater size discrimination abilities of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) was replicated with Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Performance was equivalent even though there was a marked difference in test behavior and general activity level.

To test the hypothesis that d-amphetamine increases low­ rate behavior and decreases high-rate behavior, two pigeons were trained on a three-component fixed-interval chain. The effects of six dosages were then examined. It was found that at intermediate dosages response rates in the middle compo­ nent of the chain were increased, whereas they were reduced in the final component. The major effect of the drug upon the initial component was to eliminate long pausing. In a recent article, Gibson (1967) examined the be­ havior of pigeons on a multiple FR DRL schedule of reinforcement. He found that whereas the d-ampheta­ mine increased rates during the DRL condition, it de­ creased the response rates during the FR condition. Combining these results with others available in the literature, Gibson concluded that an effect of d­ amphetamine is to increase response rates if they are low and decrease the rates if they are high. In the present experiment, Gibson's hypothesis is investigated by noting the effect of various dosages of d-amphetamine upon behavior in a three-component chained fixed-interval schedule (chain FI/FI/FI). The use of a chained schedule for this purpose has many advantages. Unlike a multiple FR DRL schedule, a chain FI/FI/FI does not require the animal to learn different response strategies. The response criterion in each component of the chain is identical. Furthermore, in a chained schedule, unlike an FR or a DRL schedule changes in general activity which may be produced by the drug have very little effect upon the attainment of reinforcement. Thus, changes that may occur in the chained-schedule behavior may be more accurately attributed to the drug's effects rather than some inter­ action between the drug's effect and the frequency of reinforcement. Finally, since chained schedules gen­ erally produce very different response rates in each component (Kelleher & Fry ,1962), they should be ideally suited for a test of Gibson's conclusion. Subjects Two adult Carneaux pigeons served as Ss. Theywere maintained throughout the experiment at 70% of their free-feeding body weights. Apparatus

Six Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) learned to depress a lever in order to obtain small strips of paper which were subsequently used in building their nests. A second, yoked control experiment showed that the contingency between the lever press and paper delivery, not a rise in general activity, controlled the response rate.

Normal and mentally retarded preschool children were tested for curiosity behavior and general activity. Although general activity was not found to be related to IQ scores, the results did indicate that the normal children’s level of curiosity behavior was greater than that of the mentally retarded ones. It was suggested that previous investigators have not reported a relationship between curiosity behavior and intelligence because of their use of Ss having a restricted range of IQ scores.