INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL-ISOLATION OF ADULT-RA TS ON FORMATION OF MANIPULATORY HABIT

Dynamics of manipulatory habit formation was examined in white mixed-b red male rats housed in groups or isolated from community at the age o f 2 months. A month later all the animals learned to reach food in a h orizontal tube using a forepaw. It was shown that the social isolation of adult animals led to slowing the motor habit formation. The effect of isolation depended on paw preference of the animal, i.e., learning was the most difficult for sinistrals and ambidextrals, while the dif ference between dextral isolants and groupped rats was not significant . The authors consider shown disruptions to be the result of increased negative emotionality of late isolants rather than consequence of the ir motor disability.