Temporal patterns of shifts eating and drinking behavior of rats during spontaneous learning with the choice of the conditional signals on touch screen monitor

The purpose of this study was to develop experimental models and to analyze the patterns of action in rats with spontaneous learning to combined food-getting and drinking behavior with an active choice of conditional signals. As a result of the research were identified various tactics of achieve results: 1 - long selection of one of the forms of conduct with infrequent shifts or 2 - short cycles of behavioral acts with frequent changes of behaviour. The duration of the «packs» in the pattern of food or drinking behavior differed between rats and characterized as their individual characteristics and stage of learning. Differences in motivational states before the experiment (separate deprivation of food or water) affect patterns of combined food and drinking behavior: increased activity corresponding to hunger or thirst. When not used for deprivation of food and water, the animals continued to instrumental behavior. The patterns are comparable with the previously discovered the temporal patterns of intervals between the discharge activity of neurons motivational structures of the brain in similar forms of animal behavior.