Stimulus control in stimulus-deprived chickens.

Abstract

After 3 groups of chickens had been reared in the dark, 1 group was maintained in the dark, 1 in monochromatic light of 589 m/u, and 1 in white light. After all groups were trained to peck a key in the presence of a 589-m/i light, a generalization test over wavelength was administered. All groups produced peaked generalization curves. No differences were found between the rearing groups. It was concluded that exposure to a continuum may not always be necessary to obtain a peaked generalization curve along that continuum.

EFFECTS OF MONOCHROMATIC REARING ON SPECTRAL DISCRIMINATION LEARNING AND THE PEAK SHIFT IN CHICKS1

“…This result further confirms the notion that behavioral control by the spectral dimension in birds is organized independently of differential early experience on that dimension. Similar findings have been reported by Malott (1968) and Mountjoy and Malott (1968). In contrast to results previously reported by Peterson (1962), steep decremental gradients were obtained following restricted rearing, and these gradients did not differ from those obtained from control subjects raised in white light.…”

Errorless learning in newborn chicks

“…Second, although errorless learning is possible in newborn chicks, special conditionifl'g procedures (e.g.,-fading in S -) are necessary for it to occur. The results from the chicks in Group II are consistent with previotF findings involving newborn chicks [e.g., Malott (1968); Warren et al (1960»), which indicate that they will not refrain from responding to S -if S + and Sare both presented from the outset and the only difference between them when first presented is hue. The need for special conditioning procedures to obtain errorless learning in chicks is also consistent with results obtained in pigeons (e.g., Terrace, 1963) and children (Storm & Robinson, 1973).…”

EVIDENCE FOR THE INNATE BASIS OF THE HUE DIMENSION IN THE DUCKLING1

“…At present, it appears as if stimulus control with respect to wavelength in ducklings and chicks does not require differential reinforcement (Malott, M. K., 1968;Mountjoy and Malott, 1968;Rudolph, Honig, and Gerry, 1969;Tracy, 1970). In each of these studies, subjects were hatched and raised in monochromatic light (590 nm) and their pecks at a 590-nm stimulus were reinforced in an operant-conditioning apparatus.…”