How golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) discriminate top from bottom flank scents in over-marks

Adam B. Cohen, Robert E. Johnston, Anne Kwon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using a habituation-discrimination paradigm, the authors investigated what cues male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) use to determine the top and bottom positions in flank gland over-marks. A difference in the ages of 2 hamsters' marks did not, by itself, produce differential memory or evaluation of the 2 scents. A spatial configuration of marks suggestive of an overlap was sufficient for the apparently overlapping scent to be remembered or valued more than the apparently underlying scent. Cues from the overlap of 2 hamsters' marks were also sufficient. These results, consistent with those previously found for responses to hamster vaginal scent over-marks, suggest that hamsters use similar cues to analyze scent over-marks that are different in chemical composition and in social functions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)241-247
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Comparative Psychology
Volume115
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Psychology (miscellaneous)

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