Instrumental thermoregulatory behavior in pigeons

Abstract

1. Pigeons were trained to perform an instrumental response to obtain cooling reinforcements under an environmental heat load condition. 2. In well trained birds the response rate increased linearly with increasing environmental heat load from 40 to 58° C (Fig. 5). The close correlation between instrumental responding and load temperature demonstrates the suitability of the response rate as a relative measure of the thermoregulatory behavior in the pigeon. 3. Up to 58° C load temperature the pigeons used the instrumental response with sufficient frequency to maintain their body temperature below the threshold of thermal panting. If the subjects were restricted to autonomic heat dissipation mechanisms, panting was elicited at an experimental heat load of about 40° C. 4. The integration of autonomic reactions, instrumental responses and species specific behavior in the thermoregulatory system is discussed.