The hole board food search task has been used in rats to analyse their learning ability and different types of memory, IC working and reference memory. In the present experiments the effects of hole depth and level of food deprivation in this task was investigated. No marked differences with respect to the performance, learning and memory were found when rats were tested with a hole depth of 2.8 and 3.8 cm. But when a hole depth of 1.8 cm was used, these parameters were changed, suggesting a decreased learning and memory under this condition. A higher level of food deprivation resulted in a better performance of the animals, but the processes implicated in learning and memory were less affected. The data indicated that both external and internal characteristics can influence the results of the hole board food search task, and thus the calculated scores for learning and memory.
