Acute extinction of exploratory behavior in mice: Role of the zoosocial factor and the effects of pyracetam and scopolamine

Abstract

An important role of the zoosocial factor in the acute extinction of exploratory behavior (habituation) is demonstrated by showing that habituation of mice to the new environment of a testing chamber occurs more rapidly and is more strongly marked when a group of animals is placed in the chamber than when animals are placed there singly. The nootropic drug Pyracetam, which improves cognitive functions, accelerated the habituation process only in grouped mice, whereas the amnesia-promoting drug scopolamine inhibited this process in both grouped and single mice.