科學家在3月28日的《科學》（Science）雜志上報道說，新的研究顯示,，大鼠能學會簡單的規(guī)則并將它們應用于新的處境中,。這種能力一般被認為是人類思想的一個根本要旨。從特定經驗中導引出抽象的規(guī)則并籍此創(chuàng)建新的序列場景是諸如幼童等如何學習語言的方式,。某些研究已經提示嬰兒,、其它的靈長類動物甚至某些禽鳥能夠學會識別某些類型的序列場景，但非人類動物是否能夠真的學會某些規(guī)則還不甚清楚,。
Robin Murphy及其同事令大鼠接觸分為三部分的序列場景,，即要么為視覺信號（輪次出現(xiàn)的暗淡及明亮的光線）或者為聽覺信號（輪次出現(xiàn)的高音或低音）。這些動物在接受食物的時候還同時接受某種序列的場景而非其它序列的場景。接著,，這些作者改變了聽覺試驗中的音調頻率,，但卻仍然維持相同的序列模式,。將大鼠頭部低向喂食槽的時間長短作為期待食物的評判,，結果發(fā)現(xiàn)，這些大鼠看來能夠根據他們所學會的規(guī)則來區(qū)別所聽到的有關信號模式,。（來源：EurekAlert!中文版）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
（Science）,，Vol. 319. no. 5871, pp. 1849 - 1851，Robin A. Murphy,，Victoria A. Murphy
Rule Learning by Rats
Robin A. Murphy,1* Esther Mondragón,1* Victoria A. Murphy2
Using rules extracted from experience to solve problems in novel situations involves cognitions such as analogical reasoning and language learning and is considered a keystone of humans' unique abilities. Nonprimates, it has been argued, lack such rule transfer. We report that Rattus norvegicus can learn simple rules and apply them to new situations. Rats learned that sequences of stimuli consistent with a rule (such as XYX) were different from other sequences (such as XXY or YXX). When novel stimuli were used to construct sequences that did or did not obey the previously learned rule, rats transferred their learning. Therefore, rats, like humans, can transfer structural knowledge from sequential experiences.
1 Department of Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
2 Department of Education, University of Oxford, 15 Norham Gardens, Oxford OX2 6PY, UK.
