CONTACT PLACING REACTION-TIMES IN THE CAT

Contact placing reaction times were measured in cats which were either restrained in a hammock or supported in a conventional way. The reaction times were longer, particularly for the forelimbs, when the cats were tested in the hammock as compared to the conventional procedure. In both experimental situations reactions times were longer for the hindlimbs than for the forelimbs. Data for cats restrained in the hammock have shown that forelimb reaction times differ depending on the stimulation site: they were significantly shorter to stimulation of the lateral side than of the dorsal and medial surfaces. Moreover, the reaction times of the right fore- and left hindlimbs were significantly longer than those of the diagonally opposite pair of limbs. The latter differences seem to be related to the posture of the animals in the hammock.