Controlled Visual Input and Exploratory Activity in C57BL/6J Mice

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that blinded rats, deprived of both patterned (complexity) and unpatterned (illumination) components of normal visual input, exhibit increased exploratory activity. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relative contributions of loss of the two components to increased activity in the mouse. In Exp. I, filters were placed over the eyes which permitted transmission of both illumination and complexity (clear), illumination only (translucent), or neither (opaque). Increased activity occurred only when illumination was reduced (opaque group). In Exp. II, unfiltered animals were run in visually simple or complex open fields. No differences in activity were observed. It is suggested that increased activity with elimination of illumination is associated with nocturnality. Three possible explanations for failure to obtain effects from variation of the complexity component are examined.

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