Genetic analysis of avoidance learning by means of different psychological testing systems with inbred mice as model organisms

Summary The genetic basis of active avoidance learning was investigated with mice as model organisms by means of different test systems such as the Shuttle-Box with light and sound stimulation and the Skinner-Box with light stimulation. Six inbred strains of mice and their offspring (F₁) as well as selected second and third generation progenies (F₂ and F₃ resp.) were used in this study. Furthermore we induced environmental modifications such as embryonic transplants in opposite behavioral phenotypes, crossfoster breeding as well as enriched and impoverished environment. The results enable us to postulate a monogenic inheritance of Shuttle-Box performance with codominant mode. The gene expression could not be disturbed by environmental manipulations. Therefore, the learning in the Shuttle-Box has a very simple genetic background which might underly a multiple allelic system.