Antigen Biotinylated Anti-Rabbit lgs Rabbit Primary Antiserum AB ...

Light Perception - Results
3.2 The Light Perception Threshold
In the learning experiment, the mole-rats showed learning success in all eight applied light
intensities, with correct choices of the illuminated tunnel in far more than 50% of all
performed runs (tab. A1, see next page). Only animal 4 showed difficulties during learning
series of three intensities (32, 13, and 11 µmol
photons
25
−2 −1
⋅ m ⋅ s , respectively) with correct
choices lower than the random probability. The individual learning gain over trials is
demonstrated in the two representative learning curves of the learning performance in the
strongest and the second lowest light intensity (figs. A9 and A10, see second next page). Note
that the three intensities 13, 10, and 11 µmol
photons
−2 −1
⋅ m ⋅ s , representing very close
photon flux rates, yielded no differences in learning performances. The similar values resulted
from technical problems with the lamps that were recognized not till after the study. These
problems were overcome before starting the threshold experiments.
The three tested animals in the threshold study showed high learning rates including
the last tested light intensity of 0.6 µmol
photons
−2 −1
⋅ m ⋅ s with constant correct choices in
more than 50% of the cases, mostly with much more than 60% correct choices and with more
than 65% correctness (cumulated percentage value) at the lowest tested intensity (tab. A2, see
next page). No learning curve could be created here, as tests were not consecutively conducted
with increasing light intensities and did not aim at visualizing a learning gain.
In the controls, the animals showed a random choice between the two illuminated
tunnel endings, indicating no lateral preference (N = 26, Chi-square test: X 2
2 = 1.385, P =
0.24).
Mean temperatures did not differ between the two measure points at the lighted
decision point (22.33±0.22 °C, N = 10) and the dark decision point (22.31±0.17 °C, N = 10)
(Paired t-test: t 9 = -0.629, P = 0.545).