Abstract
Biological predispositions influence approach and avoid responses from the time of birth or hatching. Neonates of species that require parental care (e.g. human babies and chicks of the domestic fowl) are attracted by stimuli associated with animate social partners, such as face-like configurations, biological motion and self-propulsion. The property of being filled is used as a cue of animacy by 8-month-old human infants but it is not known whether this reflects the effect of previous experience. We used chicks of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) to investigate whether the property of being filled vs. hollow elicits spontaneous or learned preferences. To this aim we tested preferences of naïve and imprinted chicks for hollow and closed cylinders. Contrary to our expectations, we documented an unlearned attraction for hollow stimuli. The preference for hollow stimuli decreased when chicks were imprinted on filled stimuli but did not increase when chicks were imprinted on hollow stimuli, suggesting that hollowness is not crucial to determine affiliative responses for imprinting objects. When chicks were imprinted on occluded stimuli that could be either filled or hollow, the preference for hollow stimuli emerged again, showing that imprinting does not disrupt the spontaneous preference for hollow objects. Further experiments revealed that hollow objects were mainly attractive by means of depth cues such as darker innards, more than as places to hide or as objects with high contrast. Our findings point to predisposed preferences for hollow objects, and suggest that early predispositions might be driven by factors different from animacy cues.
Highlights
Sensory and cognitive predispositions influence approach and avoid responses from the beginning of life [1,2,3]
Since we noticed an overall preference for hollow objects, we investigated whether this behaviour was elicited by a preference for the stimulus that could better hide the chick
In our experiments we consistently observed a preference of naïve chicks for approaching hollow objects
Summary
Sensory and cognitive predispositions influence approach and avoid responses from the beginning of life [1,2,3]. Individuals are mobile soon after birth, and can be tested when they have little if any experience, to investigate spontaneous preferences [3]. Chicks of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus), which is a nidifugal species, possess some spontaneous preferences to approach stimuli that are associated with animate social partners [17]. This is not surprising given the fact that, precocially able to move and feed autonomously, chicks benefit from the presence of the mother hen, which provides shelter, heat, and directs.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.