Acrophobia Factor Scores As A Function Of Pole Height And Habituation

Thirty C57BL/ALB mice, fifteen male and fifteen female, were tested for "acrophobia" via the pole test. The animals were randomly distributed into three groups of 6, 12, or 24 inch (15.24, 30.48, or 60.96 cm) high poles:. Both factor scores and individual pole measures were analyzed by 2 x 3 x 5 ANOVA, with main effects for sex, pole height, and days of testing. The results provide experimental support for the interpretation of this factor as acrophobia-that is, the greater the pole height, the higher the factor score. The reduction of factor scores over days (habituation) is interpreted as an arousal-based response.