The effects of bilateral and unilateral vibrissotomy on behavior within aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Introducing an untreated rat to a novel environment typically results in thigmotaxis or wall-seeking behavior and the unilateral removal of the vibrissae induces an asymmetry in thigmotaxis. The present study investigated the effects of bilateral and unilateral removal of the vibrissae (vibrissotomy) upon the rat exhibiting thigmotaxis within aquatic and terrestrial environments. Unilateral vibrissotomy resulted in directional thigmotaxis asymmetry toward the intact vibrissae side within both environments. Within the aquatic environment, the unilateral vibrissotomy group swam a significantly longer distance than the other two groups. The data are discussed in terms of activation and sensory information.