ISSN : 1226-9654
This study investigated effects of ultrasonic sounds on the behavior of rats. In experiment 1, we observed the avoidance response and habituation process when subjects were exposed to ultrasonic sound in shuttle box. Results did not confirm our expectation that rats are extremely aversive to the ultrasonic sound and showed that subjects were habituated to it. In experiment 2, we simulated natural environment, and observed the activity and habituation of rats. The result also showed that the ultrasonic sound does not prevent the hungry rats from reaching the foods, although the activity level in the environment was reduced conciderably when the sound was presented. These results suggest that the long-term ultrasonic sound does not give aversive effects completely to the rat's goal-directed behavior.