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Journal of Experimental Biology 26,317-326 (1949)
Published by Company of Biologists 1949

The Influence of Age and Sex on ‘Reasoning’

D. A. HANSON Late ¹

¹ Department of Anatomy, Brimingham University

The effect of age, sex, and a prematurely induced puberty on the solving of Maier's three-table test by rats has been investigated.

It is found that rats 70-90 days of age are able to solve the problem more successfully than rats 30-70 days of age, unless the animals are fully adjusted to the experimental procedure. When fully adjusted, rats 30-50 days of age can solve the problem more successfully than animals 50-90 days of age, and just as successfully as the adults previously investigated by Maier.

Post-pubertal females have been found to be less successful in problem solving than post-pubertal males. The cause of this difference appears to lie in difference in the adjustment of animals to experimental procedure, and not primarily to differences in ‘reasoning’ ability.

Note:
Dr. Hanson did not receive the final proofs of this paper; he had previously expressed his indebtedness to Prof. S. Zuckerman for his advice and encouragement throughout this study.