Transfer of persistence in the domestic chick: Effects of imprinting experiences on later instrumental responses*

Abstract

To test the effects of obstructed and unobstructed imprinting approach on subsequent instrumental responding, four groups of domestic chicks, in two separate replications, received imprinting or control treatment during the first week of life and later acquired a food-motivated running response in a runway for continuous reward. Runway acquisition results revealed no significant differences between imprinting (IM), imprinting/shock (IS), shock control (SK), and handling control (CN) Ss. However, significantly different patterns of persistence across groups and replications were evident during runway extinction. Results are explained in terms of a counterconditioning notion of response persistence.