Cross-modal generalization of habituation in the rat

Novel stimuli were presented in a runway where rats run for food. Subjects in a pre-exposure condition (n = 6) were exposed to visual and auditory stimulation and then to an olfactory stimulus; subjects not preexposed (n = 6) only received the olfactory stimulus. Reaction to the odor was lower in pre-exposed subjects. This result suggests cross-modal generalization effects in at least one kind of habituation of the rat.