The effects of tactile and kinesthetic stimulation on the neonatal development of 12 premature infants were investigated. Experimental infants received four 15-min periods of tactile and kinesthetic stimulation daily for 10 days. The control infants received only standard, routine nursery care. Data were collected daily on 8 dependent measures: weight, number of feedings, amount of formula intake, body temperature, respiration, heart rate, frequency of voiding, and frequency of stooling. The data analyses revealed significant differences in amount of formula intake and in weight at the end of the treatment period in favor of the experimental infants. Additionally, the experimental infants required significantly fewer feedings during the stimulation period. All others dependent measures were nonsignificant.

The effects of litter size variations on the emotional reactivity in BALB/c mice were investigated. Emotional reactivity was measured by testing each subject for 3 consecutive days in an automated open field where three dependent measures were obtained: activity level, quadrants traversed, and defecation. Mice reared in large litters exhibited significantly greater emotional reactivity than those reared in small litters. The effects were consistent across all three indices of emotionality. The results strongly implicate litter size variations as a confounding variable in developmental research with rodents, and may weaken those studies which have failed to control for this variable.1 This report is based on a thesis submitted to the University of South Florida by the second author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the master's degree." Requests for reprints should be sent to R.

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Rumination is a rare behavior disorder of childhood involving regurgitation of food which is then ejected or reswallowed. The present study investigated the control of rumination through use of a positive reinforcer (a mixture of honey and water) delivered on a differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) schedule. The subject was a 26-month-old girl who had lost 50% of body weight through rumination. DRO was used as part of a multifaceted treatment program which also included, at different phases, punishment and time out from positive reinforcement. Evaluation of treatment components via a single-subject experimental design with withdrawals indicated the DRO procedure exerted powerful controlling effects over rumination. Transfer of control to social consequences was attempted through use of time out with punishment. The subject's weight increased over her 69-day hospitalization from 7.1 kg. to 11 kg. A 10-month followup revealed continued weight gain and suppression of rumination. Possible limitations to generalizability of findings, particularly previous experience with punishment, are discussed as are advantages of DRO in the management of this behavior problem.

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