The authors examined the relationships between 2 "personality" dimensions (Approach and Fear Avoidance) and 2-way active avoidance learning performance in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Contrary to expectations (based on prior rodent studies), higher fearfulness facilitated both earlier appearance and acquisition of the shuttlebox avoidance responses, especially in the less exploratory and ac...

Long-term behavioral changes related to learning and experience have been shown to be associated with structural remodeling in the brain. Leaf-cutting ants learn to avoid previously preferred plants after they have proved harmful for their symbiotic fungus, a process that involves long-term olfactory memory. We studied the dynamics of brain microarchitectural changes after long-term olfactory m...

Two-factor theory of avoidance remains one of the most infl uential theories of learning. It addresses a question of what works as a reinforcement of avoidance behavior, and proposes that: 1. an organism associates stimuli in the environment with aversive stimuli, and this allows these stimuli to evoke fear; 2. the avoidance response is reinforced by eliminating these warning stimuli or by esca...

In most studies on avoidance learning, participants receive an aversive unconditioned stimulus after a warning signal is presented, unless the participant performs a particular response. Lovibond (2006) recently proposed a cognitive theory of avoidance learning, according to which avoidance behaviour is a function of both Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning. In line with this theory, we fou...

Background: Exposure to electromagnetic radiation may impair memory. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency wave (hereafter referred to as RFW) on passive avoidance learning and memory in healthy males and females. Materials and Methods: Ten adult male and ten female Sprague-Dawley rats (230±20 gr) were randomly divided into four groups including two control groups (o...