Complexity, novelty, and food deprivation as determinants of speed of shift of behavior.

Experiment 1 investigates effects of different levels of start-box novelty and complexity on rats' running speed to food; Experiment 2 investigates effects of 2 degrees of goal-box novelty and complexity on the persistence of eating in the start box. Both experiments are conceptualized in a framework focusing attention on shifts from one behavior (ongoing) to another (alternative) in which latency of behavior shift is expected to be a function of relative attractiveness of ongoing and alternative behaviors. Results obtained support this view and indicate effectiveness of novelty and complexity as determinants of attractiveness of both ongoing and alternative behaviors.