An experimental investigation of the possible role of tactile and proprioceptive stimulation in certain aspects of embryonic behavior in the chick

Abstract

Tactile and proprioceptive stimulation designed to approximate natural sources of stimulation was administered to chick embryos from the 5th to the 16th day of incubation in the first 3 of 5 separate experiments. Such stimulation produced few modifications in the frequency, periodicity or qualitative aspects of embryos' movements at any age. In experiment IV, stimulation, considered to be atypical with regard to the frequency and intensity of administration, was found to modify the periodic but not the frequency aspects of embryonic behavior on Day 10 of incubation. The final experiment (V) provided partial support for the hypothesis that the general lack of effect of tactileproprioceptive stimulation in undisturbed chick embryos is due to a rather rapid cessation of responding. It was concluded that these 5 experiments support the contention that spontaneous activity is an important aspect of the normal embryonic behavior of the chick.A recurring problem in the study of the ontogeny of behavior is the extent to wtuch behavioral or neural organization in the prenatal period is dependent upon ongoing or previously occurring afferent stimulation. This problem has been, and remains, a matter of concern to neuroembryologists (Harrison

Cross‐species investigations of prenatal experience, hatching behavior, and postnatal behavioral laterality

“…To successfully hatch, the posture of the chick embryo must be oriented toward the top of the egg with the right side facing outward, thus providing a greater degree of mobility to the right side of the body. This mobility is needed as the chick rotates within the egg, breaking through the shell in a circular pattern as it moves (Freeman & Vince, 1974;Oppenheim, 1972). This right-side differential seems to be consistent throughout most of the late stages of incubation.…”

“…Oppenheim (1972) detailed the relatively invariant pattern of hatching behaviors required for a precocial bird to successfully escape the egg. Alternative positioning usually results in a failure to hatch and death inside the egg (see Asmundson, 1938 for analysis of failure to hatch rates).…”

“…Oppenheim (1972) found Japanese quail to have the same stereotyped embryo orientation and hatching behaviors as those of domestic chicks, bobwhite quail, mallard ducklings, and so on. We further assessed the hatching bahaviors of Japanese quail, bobwhite quail, and domestic chicks by collecting and comparing discarded shells.…”

Teratogenic effects of pyridoxine on the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of embryonic chickens

“…However, we do not have a clear understanding of how sensory information modulates spontaneous embryonic movement. It has been shown that sensory synapses are present in the lumbosacral spinal cord as early as embryonic day (E) 7 in the chicken embryo (Lee et al, 1988; Davis et al, 1989) and that peripheral stimulation can initiate reflexic activity starting at this time (Oppenheim, 1972). Additionally, behavioral observations and manipulations have suggested that somatosensory feedback may be used to modify embryonic leg and wing motility as early as E9 (Bradley, 1997; Sharp et al, 1999).…”

Neuroethological approaches to the study of motor development in chicks: Achievements and challenges

“…In fact, the organization of the neural circuitry precedes the time at which sensory input from leg afferents becomes available (Orr and Windle, 1934;Visintini and Levi-Montalcini, 1939;Oppenheim, 1972;Lee, Koebbe, and O'Donovan, 1988;Davis, Frank, Johnson, and Scott, 1989). Therefore, sensory feedback does not normally play a role in its initial development.…”