Lateralization of motor reactions and formation of behavioural tactics during learning in the eight-arm radial maze in adolescent and adult rats.

The problem of motor lateralization in ontogenesis is important for understanding adaptation development. In our experiment adolescent (P28-P30) and adult (P120) rats were trained in an eight-arm radial maze and their motor behaviour compared during training. During learning, the adult rats typically started by moving either left or right direction in the central arena in choosing the way in the maze. The adult rats also developed behavioural tactics to enter maze arms at 45° or 90° relative to the previously visited arm. The adolescent rats showed no directional preference and no clear behavioural tactics when entering maze arms. Based on our findings, we propose that motor lateralization increases the efficacy of food search and leads to the elaboration of behavioural tactics. Data obtained may reflect the fact that motor behaviour specialization develops gradually during ontogenesis and is helpful for adaptation to the environment.