Effect of nutritional and environmental restrictions on discrimination learning behaviour of juvenile rats

Effects of nutritional and environmental restrictions on discrimination learning in a single unit black/white T-maze were studied in albino rats. Nutritional restrictions were imposed by 25 and 50% dietary restriction and environmental restrictions were given for 3 and 6 weeks. Both the restrictions were imposed at 46th day after birth. Long-term (6 weeks) environmental restriction significantly impaired the original and reversal discrimination learning, however, short-term (3 weeks) restriction had no effect. Nutritional (dietary) restrictions, on the other hand, had no effect on both learning performances. Interaction between these two variables was also statistically insignificant.