Selective olfactory exposure alters social and plant odor preferences of immature hamsters

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19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hamsters 6-42 days old learn to prefer or tolerate certain odors to which they are exposed. The particular preferences affected change with age. During the first postnatal week, a 1-hr exposure to a plant odor transiently eliminates its aversiveness. In contrast, plant odor preferences of hamsters 11-42 days old are minimally affected by olfactory exposure. However, some combinations of plant and hamster odors are significantly more attractive when familiar than when unfamiliar to hamsters 11 days and older. The observed preference differences suggest that some botanical odors, when unfamiliar, prevent concurrent social odors from influencing behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)131-137
Number of pages7
JournalBehavioral Biology
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1976
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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