Sex differences in rat decision-making: The confounding role of extraneous feeder sampling between trials.

摘要: Abstract Although male and female rats appear to perform differently in some tasks, a clear picture of sex differences decision-making has yet develop. This is part due significant variability arising from strains tasks. The aim this study was characterize the effects on specific response elements reinforcement learning task so as help identify potential explanations for variability. We found that primary difference between sexes propensity approach feeders out context. extraneous feeder sampling affects choice subsequent trials both by promoting lose-shift away last sampled. Female rats, however, were more likely engage sampling, therefore exhibited greater rate effect. Once following removed, there no any tested measures. These data suggest outside context, which often not recorded, could produce confound sex-based sensitivity