Changes in licking behaviour of rat mother following handling of young

Abstract Priestnall's report of increasing licking of rodent young by the mother afater handling could be a temporary reaction to intervention and so of no significance in mediating the handling effect. Here observations were made before and after handling, and long-term changes in licking behaviour were found. Litter and maternal-handled groups showed more licking than controls over days 5 to 9, and the litter-handled group showed less licking than the other two groups on days 15 to 19.