The development of passive and active avoidance learning in the cat

Kittens of 25 and 50 days of age were tested on a passive avoidance task in a 2-compartment black-white shuttle box. Latency to enter the dark side of the box was the same for both groups on Day 1, but the latency to enter the dark side on Day 2 was much shorter for the younger kittens. Other kittens were trained in a step-up active avoidance task also at 25 and 50 days of age. No differences were found in active avoidance performance between the younger and older animals, indicating that active and passive avoidance tasks may possibly reflect separate developmental processes that mature at different rates in the cat.