The influence of flavored solution concentration on the poisoned-partner effect.

Two experiments are reported in which we attempted to replicate the poisoned-partner effect, varying the concentration of a novel-tasting solution. Unpoisoned rats exhibited an aversion to a saccharin solution that had been consumed previously in the presence of a poisoned rat when it had a concentration of 0.6% but did not when it was of 0.15%. These results seem to show that the poisoned-partner effect depends upon the intensity of the solution employed and to suggest that it may be facilitated by a low initial consumption.