Prism-induced negative aftereffects without food-reinforced feedback in newly hatched chicks

Abstract

Newly hatched chicks wearing hoods containing 8.5-deg prisms were force-fed a diet of liquified seeds. On the seventh day, the prism hoods were changed to 0-deg control hoods, and those chicks that pecked demonstrated significant negative aftereffects. Since the majority of the group did not peck at seed targets, a subgroup was given 3 additional days of exposure to solid seeds while wearing 8.5-deg prisms. This sample also demonstrated significant negative aftereffects. It was argued that, while passive feeding leads to later failure to recognize or prefer solid-food targets, it did not interfere with negative aftereffect development.