Intertrial — Interval in the “Water Escape Test” in Mice

Abstract

In 1961 ESSMAN and JARVIK published a “water escape test” in mice as motivating factor in animal learning. The biological basis of such tests is that mice like other rodents are able to swim and in consequence they are also able to ashore. This is essential to survive for the animals, and under this aspect it is an unconditioned reflex. “The present technique has been shown to be effective for demonstrating the rapid acquisition of orientation response in mice” (ESSMAN and JARVIK 1961). It is a useful test in behavioural research, as a very easy and quick learning in mice. It will be possible to get results without a long training period after three or four trials in one hour. In the standard procedure the Intertrial-Interval (ITI) is 15 min (ESSMAN and JARVIK 1961, HEINECKE 1987) or 24 hours (FESTING 1973).