Non-Specificity of the following Response in Peking Ducklings

Abstract

After showing strong indications of attachment to an auditory-visual stimulus over the first 3 days of life, 8 Peking ducklings were exposed to a novel visual stimulus paired with either (1) the original imprinted sound, (2) a novel sound, or (3) no sound on Day 4. On Day 5, all Ss were tested for their responsiveness to the object to which they were exposed on Day 4 but with no associated auditory stimulus. Ss exposed to the new object plus either new or original sound on Day 4 displayed a high degree of following and approach on Day 4 and also on Day 5 when the object was silent. The highest rate of generalization was found in those Ss exposed to a sound similar to the original sound on the Day 4 trial. The group exposed to the silent novel object on both Days 4 and 5 showed little approach and following on either day. An attempt was made to explain tentatively these results as related to the arousal function of an auditory stimulus as well as stimulus generalization.