Accurate Visual Memory of Colors in Controlling the Pecking Behavior of Quail Chicks : Neurobiology

概要

論文の詳細を見る
Animals are predisposed to memorize specific features of objects they encounter, and to link them with behavioral outputs in a selective manner. In this study, we examined whether chicks memorize objects by colors, and how they exploit the memorized color cues for selective pecking in 1-to 2-days-old quail chicks (Conturnix japonica). Ball-shaped beads painted in green (G), yellowish green (YG) and the intermediate color (YGG) were used. Repetitive presentation of a bead (interval: 4.5 min) resulted in gradually fewer pecks (habituation). Subsequent presentation of a dirrerent color caused proportionately more pecks (dishabituation); e.g., after habituation to the G bead, the YG bead caused a stronger dishabituation than the YGG bead did. The dishabituation appeared symmetric; e.g., the YG bead caused as strong dishabituation after the G-habituation, as was caused by the G bead after the YG-habituation. Number of pecks could thus reveal the memory-based color perception in chicks. Similar discrimination of beads by memorized color cues was found after one-trial passive avoidance training, where chicks learned to avoid a bitter-tasting object without any differential pre-training experiences. However, Proportion of the chicks that discriminated between different colors became progressively smaller at test 15 min, 1 hr, and 24 hr posttraining. On the other hand, propohion of chicks that distinguished beads by non-color cues remained un-changed. Chicks may primarily form an accurate memory of colors, but gradually change the link between the color memory and the pecking behavior.
社団法人日本動物学会の論文
2000-11-01

Accurate Visual Memory of Colors in Controlling the Pecking Behavior of Quail Chicks : Neurobiology

スポンサーリンク

概要

著者

関連論文

スポンサーリンク