Fridav. May 18, 1956. University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Rat's Action May Help Explain Human Behavior
By JOHN BATTIN
BY JOHN BATTIN
(Of The Daily Kausan Staff)
Rats are known as filthy creatures, but did you know their behavior is adapted to the study of your behavior?
In the psychological experimentation laboratory, located in Strong Annex F. graduate students experiment with inbred strains of rats. The Sprague-Dawley and Wister strains, having white fur, are purchased from a local farm, and the Black Hood, a more active rat, having white fur except for black fur about the head, is bred at the laboratory.
"Inbred strains are used to prevent wide variations in heredity. It is believed that experimental results are affected to a small degree." Harold McNamara, Lawrence graduate student, said.
McNamara has had experimenta work published in Psychological Reports in collaboration with Dr. Edward L. Wike, assistant professor of psychology, and has work accepted by the Journal of Experimental Psychology, although it is as yet unpublished. He will receive the master of science degree in psychology in June.
Has Work Published
"They look like boxers and squeal sometimes when they fight," McNamara said. "Often I've found dead ones. They're semi-cannibalistic and eat each other if they're hungry enough."
T. L. Pursley, Lawrence graduate student, said rats aren't usually experimented with in the summer
"Rats form a dominance hierarchy," McNamara explained. "It is a type of social order and one manifestation is in feeding. Number one rat has precedence, and all others get out of the way. Then number two rat feeds, until all four rats in the cage have fed."
Rats are fed chicken pellets for maintenance on experiments and fox chow while on a general diet, but breeders are fed a special diet, McNamara said.
"One student recently did experiments from one to three o'clock in the morning," Pursley said. "When temperatures are 98 to 105 degrees in this building, rats are inactive."
Low Temperatures Best
During regular school terms when temperatures are considerably lower, experiments are carried on when rats have been unfed for 22 hours. They are fairly active under these conditions.
"Each student marks his rats with a code using Castellani's paint." McNamara said. "Usually a rat is marked on the head, back or rump. The paint won't come off the fur or your clothes."
"Pursley marks his with different colors. It's a matter of personal preference." The rats appeared multi-colored inside the cages.
Graduate Student Receives Fulbright
Eugene Gardner, Providence,
R.I., graduate student, has received
a Fulbright scholarship to the
Technical University, Braunschweig,
Germany.
Gardner will study history in Germany and will serve as an assistant in English at a Braunschweig, secondary school.
When asked if the marking interfered with later experiments, McNamara smiled.
"Rats are used for one experiment only. We aren't cruel to them. They are killed with chloroform." The American Psychological Association circulates a code for human handling of experimental animals.
Social Experiment Conducted
A social experiment being carried on at the present time by Al Casey, graduate student from Austin, Tex., consists of five rats being placed in separate wire cages on a circular board. The "subject" rat is placed in the middle of the board and the time spent with the other rats is carefully noted.
Pursley is doing an experiment using one of the "miracle" drugs which quiets overly-active emotions. Reaction time between the moment a rat is placed in the jump box and the moment it jumps may be significant under influence of the drug.
The idea came from behavior of human beings when it was noted that some people are more popular than others, and people wanted to spend more time with the popular one. Answers may be forthcoming from experiments with rats.
Some psychologists believe these and other experiments using rats may contribute to a better understanding of human behavior.
- (Daily Kansan photo)
GRACE JUMPS HIGH—T. L. Pursley, Lawrence graduate student, gives a Black Hood, a strain of rat, an electric shock. Grace is grasping for a foothold while under the influence of a "miracle" drug, after jumping from the platform.
ROTC Groups To Parade Today
"Power for Peace," theme of Armed Forces Day throughout the nation, will be demonstrated today by 850 University ROTC members in a tri-service parade at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Stadium.
Outstanding cadets and mil shipmen of the University's three ROTC units will be recognized at the parade.
The groups, led by a combined Army and Air Force band, will observe the presentation of awards by Capt. V. F. Gerdinier, retiring professor of naval science; Col. Thomas B. Summers, professor of air science; Lt. College Justice R. Neale, professor of military science and tactics; Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy; D. W. Gilmore and Otis Allen, representing the Sons of the American Revolution; and Albert S. Palmerlee, professor of engineering drawing.
the three ROTC units will assemble at the Military Science building at 3 p.m. and proceed from there to Memorial Stadium.
After the presentations the combined units will be reviewed by Capt. Gordinier and Chancellor Murphy.
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