?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Observing+birth+and+placentophagia+affects+placentophagia+but+not+maternal+behavior+of+virgin+rats&rft.creator=Kristal%2C+Dr.+Mark+B.&rft.creator=Nishita%2C+J.+Ken&rft.subject=Behavioral+Neuroscience&rft.subject=Animal+Behavior&rft.description=To+determine+whether+observing+components+of+periparturitional+behavior+affects+the+manifestation+of+those+behaviors+in+virgin+rats%2C+virgins+selected+for+nonplacentophagia+and+for+the+absence+of+spontaneous+maternal+behavior+toward+pups+were+exposed+to+stimulus+rats+that+were+giving+birth%2C+eating+placenta%2C+or+eating+lab+chow.+During+observations%2C+subjects+could+either+eat+donor+placenta+or+just+see+and+smell+it.+The+subjects+were+tested+subsequently+for+placentophagia+and+for+the+rate+of+onset+of+pup-induced+maternal+behavior.+The+results+indicated+that%3A+(1)+access+to+placenta+in+the+presence+of+other+rats+led+to+placentophagia%3B+(2)+when+such+placentophagia+occurred+in+conjunction+with+exposure+to+other+rats+that+were+giving+birth+or+eating+donor+placenta%2C+the+subjects+became+permanent+placentophages+(otherwise%2C+the+subjects+reverted+and+did+not+eat+on+subsequent+placentophagia+tests)%3B+(3)+none+of+the+observation+conditions%2C+regardless+of+the+availability+of+placenta+during+observation%2C+affected+the+maternal+sensitization+latency.+The+results+are+discussed+in+terms+of+social+facilitation%2C+exposure+learning%2C+and+desensitization+to+exteroceptive+stimuli.&rft.publisher=Psychonomic+Society&rft.date=1981&rft.type=Journal+(Paginated)&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F5767%2F1%2Fobs.pdf&rft.identifier=++Kristal%2C+Dr.+Mark+B.+and+Nishita%2C+J.+Ken++(1981)+Observing+birth+and+placentophagia+affects+placentophagia+but+not+maternal+behavior+of+virgin+rats.++%5BJournal+(Paginated)%5D+++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F5767%2F