Isolated rearing and Hebb-Williams maze performance

48 male hooded rats were reared from weaning to adulthood either individually in small opaque-walled cages or together in larger, open cages containing various objects. Following rearing, Ss' “emotionality” and their efficiency at solving maze problems were measured. Consonant with other studies, Ss reared in isolation were more “emotional.” Unlike previous reports, Ss of the isolated rearing condition were as efficient at solving maze problems as Ss of the “enrichment” condition. It is concluded that the problem-solving efficiency of the two groups was equalized by reducing the effects of the emotionality by harsh deprivation for the incentive, by greater pretraining habituation, and by reducing the possibility for direct positive transfer from the training of enrichment to maze solving.