Age, sex and genotype effects on stimulus exploration and locomotor activity in young mice.

Age and sex effects on stimulus exploration and locomotor activity were investigated in three genetic stocks of mice. Three measures of exploratory behavior and one measure of locomotor activity were recorded in an arena testing situation. The results showed that measures requiring locomotor activity are more affected by differences in age and sex than measures of stimulus exploration. The results are discussed in terms of the previously established genetic models of stimulus exploration and activity.