Effects of tactile stimulation on the initiation and maintenance of the following response in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Stimulus factors in the isolation-induced aggression of Bobwhite quail and Khaki Campbell ducklings

“…Visual stimulation is well known to have powerful effects in the attachment behavior of young precocial birds (Hoffman and Ratner, 1973), and recent evidence is beginning to suggest tactile stimulation as an important factor as well (Clements and Lien, 1975). The present findings, which credit both conspecific visual and conspecific tactile stimulation with aggressionreducing effects, are consistent with this second hypothesis.…”

First-sight recognition of touched objects shows that chicks can solve the Molyneux’s problem

“…Although chicks spend most of their first days in contact with the hen ( 12 ), it is not known whether imprinting works in tactile modality. However, tactile sensory experience is very important for young birds: in several precocial species, visual preferences for objects are enhanced when birds can also touch the objects ( 20 , 21 ). Our experiment can clarify whether tactile experience can affect chicks’ visual preferences.…”

The Functions of Human Touch: An Integrative Review

“…Since Harlow's work, researchers have shown that non-human primate infants display increased stress symptoms, following brief separation (i.e., 30 min to 10 days) from their caregiver (Coe, et al, 1978;Reite et al, 1981). The tactile sense is pertinent for facilitating caregiver attachment in rodents (e.g., Caldji et al, 1998Caldji et al, , 2000Kaffman & Meaney, 2007;Liu et al, 1997), birds (e.g., Clements & Lien, 1975;Eiserer, 1978;Gottlieb, 1993), elephants (e.g., Lee, 1987) and ungulates (e.g., Nowak and Boivin, 2015). Thus, the role of contact comfort in establishing filial bonds, social and affective development, seems conserved across several species.…”