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The Recording of Licking Behavior

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Drinking Behavior

Abstract

A contact-sensitive electronic instrument was described by Pilgrim (1948), but it was only after the publication of “An electronic drinkometer” (Hill and Stellar, 1951) that contact sensors became routine tools in studies requiring the recording of water intake. These devices are still commonly referred to as drinkometers; however, preference here will be given to the terms lick or contact sensors. The principle of the device is simple. One lead from the instrument makes contact with the drinking tube; the other one goes to the metal floor of the test chamber. Each time the animal completes the circuit, switching is accomplished in the output circuit of the sensor, and the switch can be used for counting or for some other means of registration.

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© 1977 Plenum Press, New York

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Weijnen, J.A.W.M. (1977). The Recording of Licking Behavior. In: Weijnen, J.A.W.M., Mendelson, J. (eds) Drinking Behavior. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2319-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2319-8_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2321-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2319-8

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