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Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1968 Sep;11(5):633–639. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-633

Biting attack by rats in response to aversive shock1

N H Azrin, H B Rubin, R R Hutchinson
PMCID: PMC1338539  PMID: 5749187

Abstract

Paired rats are known to behave aggressively when given painful electric shocks. The present study developed a procedure whereby individual rats given shocks might bite an inanimate target object. Unavoidable shock was delivered to the rat while it was restrained in a position close to, and facing a target object. Biting of the target was recorded automatically. Shock caused the rat to bite metal, wood, or rubber targets. Biting was most frequent immediately after shock and decreased as a direct function of time since the shock. Almost every shock produced biting and the behavior continued as long as the shocks were delivered. Biting ceased within and between sessions when shocks were discontinued. These results show how the pain-aggression relation can be studied objectively with rats.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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