Spatial behavior

This study surveyed over 500 persons. It examined whether the physical distance dimension of our social world or "social space" is still a force in shaping the interaction between people when modern transportation and communication makes interaction with distant others more feasible. Using both oral, and mass interviews, participants were asked to describe the character, frequency of contact, importance, and distance of their contacts within a 24-hour period. As predicted by Latane's (1981) social impact theory, the bulk of the relationships occurred at close distances. Over two-thirds of the relationships occurred at distances of 10 niles or less. Relationship type affected the distance, frequency of contact, and importance of relationships significantly. "Partners" had higher frequencies of contact and shorter reported distance than either relatives or friends. A positive relationship between importance and distance seems to indicate that some far contacts can be maintained.

The effects of prenatal ethanol exposure, via a liquid diet containing 35% ethanol derived calories, on spatial learning were assessed in the radial arm maze and Morris water maze at 30 and 60 days of age. No significant affects of ethanol exposure were found on either task at either age. The effects of postnatal ethanol exposure, via self administration of a 15% ethanol solution, on spatial learning were assessed in the radial arm maze and Morris water maze. No significant effects of ethanol exposure were found on either task at either 30 or 60 days of age. Subtle differences in performance in the radial arm maze were found at 30 days of age in both the prenatally and postnatally ethanol exposed groups. These differences suggest that the exposure to ethanol postnatally may be interfering with the rate of learning and the ability to learn.