Rat Behavior in the Exploration Box - Cluster Analysis

The main objective of this study was to provide a description of the possible patterns of rat behaviour in the exploration box. Both age and sex of the animals were controlled. The measures taken assessed changes in the patterns of behavioural activity over time. Sex did not differentiate the rat's behaviour significantly. Two patterns of developmental changes were found. The results of cluster analysis with a sequential data sets lead to the conclusion that there are at least two levels of regulation of rat behaviour: activation and content organization. It was also shown that rat behaviour in the exploration box is not stereotyped but highly plastic. The results are discussed in terms of development, sex differences and individual differences