Agression

Social interaction with non-littermate conspecifics is used as a measure of aggression.  Memory components can be assessed by repeated exposures over various frequencies.

Procedure

After a set period of acclimation, an adult subject is allowed to interact with a conspecific for a specific interval and measurements of aggressive behavior are made.  If a memory component is assessed, after a retention delay, the adult male is introduced to either a novel or the same conspecific.  The level of aggressive behaviors exhibited with novel and previously encountered conspecifics is compared.  This task tests level of aggression and memory for social information and cues that identify individual subjects.

Aggressive Behavior