Abstract
Boyd & Richerson (1988 Social Learning: Psychological and Biological Perspectives, pp. 29–48) predicted from formal models of the evolution of social learning that an animal should rely more heavily on socially acquired information when seeking a nutrient that it has difficulty learning to select for itself than when seeking a nutrient it can readily identify. We compared the extent to which Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, seeking either sodium (which they can easily identify) or protein (which they cannot identify), relied on information acquired from recently fed conspecific demonstrators when selecting a food. Consistent with Boyd & Richerson's prediction, when choosing between two unfamiliar, distinctively flavoured foods rich in both protein and sodium, protein-deprived rats showed significantly greater social influence on their food choices than did sodium-deprived rats.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
