Discrimination and Successive Spatial Reversal Learning in Chicks that Fail to Imprint vs Ones that Imprint Strongly 1

Abstract

Selected on the basis of following at 12 hr. post-hatch and on differential retention measures at 36 hr., strongly imprinted (S-I) and non-imprinted (N-I) broiler chicks were compared on discrimination learning in a T-maze. In Exp. I week-old S-I and N-I Ss did not differ in solution of a spatial discrimination. Similarly, Exp. II showed no difference in learning a spatial discrimination or 20 successive 12-trial spatial reversals. The usual up-down cycles in accuracy found with successive reversal learning, however, showed a somewhat earlier abatement for N-I than S-I chicks. Exp. III showed over-all slower learning of an object discrimination, compared to the rapid spatial learning of Exp. I. S-I and N-D (followers, but when retested, not discriminators) responded to the correct object just significantly more often than N-I on their first training day (12 trials). If replicable, a possible relation between neonate learning and reactivity or arousal in imprinting is suggested. Findings over-all, however, do not support any substantial relation between learning ability and im-printability in chicks.