Data from: Learning of efficient behaviour in spatial exploration through observation of behaviour of conspecific in laboratory rats

Recent studies have suggested that rodent behaviour is influenced by the
behaviour of surrounding conspecifics (e.g. emotional contagion and
prosocial behaviour). However, little is known about deferred imitation
and complex observational learning in rats. The purpose of this study was
to reveal whether rats can learn from another rat's experiences. In a
maze, observer rats watched the foraging behaviour of other rats
(demonstrators) and then foraged in turn. The results showed that
demonstrators explored inefficiently, but observers explored more
efficiently after observing inefficient exploration by the demonstrators.
This observational learning probably involved the acquisition of an
efficient strategy through spatial exploration.