Abstract
In the course of imprinting, chicks were regularly tested by brief exposure to a novel stimulus in successive choice tests. Their approach towards the novel stimulus relative to their approach towards the familiar was used as a measure of preference. The repeated tests with the novel stimulus were started at four different times after the beginning of imprinting: 21, 43, 65, and 87 min. The first test of each group showed the longer that chicks had been imprinted beforehand, the greater the preference for the familiar. However, chicks trained for 21 min before testing were influenced by the first test and continued to show a preference for the more novel stimulus throughout subsequent testing. By contrast, the other three groups showed a stable preference for the familiar stimulus.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bateson, P. P. G. Internai influences on early learning birds. In R. A. Hinde & I. Stevenson Hinde (Eds.),Constraints on learning. London: Academic Press, 1973. Pp. 101–116. (a)
Bateson, P. P. G. Preference for familiarity and novelty: A model for the simultaneous development of both.Journal of Theoretical Biology, 1973,41, 249–259. (b)
Bateson, P. P. G., &Jaeckel, J. B. Imprinting: Correlations between activities of chicks during training and testing.Animal Behaviour, 1974,22, 899–906.
Bateson, P. P. G., &Jaeckel, J. B. Chicks’ preference for familiar and novel conspicuous objects after different periods of exposure.Animal Behaviour, 1976,24, 386–390.
Bateson, P. P. G., &Wainwright, A. A. P. Effects of prior exposure to light on the imprinting process in domestic chicks.Behaviour, 1972,42, 279–290.
Gottlieb, G., &Simnek, M. L. Auditory versus visual flicker in directing the approach response of domestic chicks.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1969,67, 58–63.
Jackson, P. S., &Bateson, P. P. G. Imprinting and exploration of slight novelty in chicks.Nature, 1974,251, 609–610.
Kovach, J. K. Effectiveness of different colours in the elicitation and development of approach behaviour in chicks.Behaviour, 1971,38, 154–168.
Simner, M. L. The development of visual flicker rate preference in the newly hatched chick.Developmental Psychobiology, 1973,6, 377–384.
White, R. E. C. WRATS: A computer-compatible system for automatically recording and transcribing behavioural data.Behaviour, 1971,40, 135–161.
Zajonc, R. B., Reimer, D. J., &Hausser, D. Imprinting and the development of object preference in chicks by mere repeated exposure.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1973,83, 434–440.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by a grant from the Science Research Council.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bateson, P. Brief exposure to a novel stimulus during imprinting in chicks and its influence on subsequent preferences. Animal Learning & Behavior 7, 259–262 (1979). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209281
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209281