The origin of the following response in neonatal precocial aves

Clements, Maureen (1971) The origin of the following response in neonatal precocial aves. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This investigation examined two hypotheses derived from Schneirla's (1965) theory; (1) the neonatal avis is under proximal stimulus control, and tactile stimulation should, therefore, facilitate the following response, (2) the transition from proximal to distance stimulus control should be facilitated when proximal stimulation occurs in conjunction with distance stimulation of the embryo. Two experiments indicated that tactile contact facilitated both the initiation and maintenance of the following response in young Coturnix. Another set of experiments was designed to investigate the level of embryonic activity prior to or after two types of intraovular mechanical stimulation, egg rotation or shaking. The results indicated that Leghorn chicken embryos, on days 13 through 16 of incubation, made a geotaxic response to egg rotation, and that frequency and amplitude of embryonic movements increased after both types of mechanical stimulation. Amplitude and frequency increased to a greater extent after egg rotation than after egg shaking. The last set of experiments paired auditory and mechanical stimulation of the embryo and assessed later effects of this stimulation on neonatal following. Murre embryos, subjected to embryonic auditory stimulation after egg rotation, exhibited stronger following as neonates than when this stimulation was given prior to rotation. When following scores were equated for different levels of activity between subjects, following was still stronger in the stimulation after rotation condition. Another experiment using chicken embryos, indicated that the effect of pairing an auditory stimulus with two types of mechanical stimulation was to enhance following in the presence of this auditory stimulus regardless of which type of mechanical stimulation occurred, or when the auditory stimulation occurred. The results of these experiments are interpreted as being consistent with Schneirla's hypothesis that the early approach responses of the neonate avis are directed by proximal stimulation.

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