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Prescorbutic Vitamin C Deficiency And Escape, Avoidance, And Extinction Behavior In Guinea Pigs (Cavia Porcellus), Susan Goodwin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Few studies in the area of psychodietetics have concentrated upon the relationship between a single dietary nutrient and behavior. However, some vitamins have been shown to be particularly important to central nervous system activity. Among these is Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Two experiments were done to determine the effects of ascorbic acid deficient diets on a learning task in which guinea pigs were subjects. Learning was defined as acquisition and extinction of shock-escape and shock-avoidance behavior.

In Experiment I, twelve adult guinea pigs were fed diets containing two different deficient amounts of ascorbic acid for six weeks. They were then …