Abstract
Although a number of recent studies (Bartlett & Liebermann, 1960; Farris, 1964; Reese & Reese, 1962; Thompson, Loomis, & Loomis, 1965) suggest that Japanese quail make excellent Ss for the behavioral laboratory, there are no parametric data on instrumental discrimination learning with this species. This study assessed the acquisition of three commonly used simultaneous discriminations; color, pattern, and form, using Coturnix quail as Ss. The results showed, (a) form to be the most difficult to discriminate, followed by pattern, then color, and (b) little relationship between error trials, or total trials to the criterion required for acquisition, on the three stimulus dimensions.
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Bartlett, L. M., & Liebermann, E. Possible visual imitation in the Coturnix quail. Proceedings of the 57th Annual Meeting of American Zoologists. In Anat. Rec., 1960, 138, 333. (Abstract)
Farris, H. E. Behavioral development, social organization, and conditioning of courting behavior in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Michigan State University, 1964.
Reese, Ellen, P., & Reese, T. W. The quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, as a laboratory animal. J. exp. Anal. Behav., 1962, 5, 265–270.
Thompson, M. E., Loomis, Marg E., & Loomis, Lou Ann. Response variability in the quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Psychon. Sci., 1965, 3, 519–520.
Zeigler, H. P. Effects of endbrain lesions on visual discrimination learning in pigeons. J. comp. Neur., 1963, 120, 161–181.
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1. This paper was presented by the first author at the Midwest Psychological Association Convention, May 5, 1966.
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Fidura, F.G., Gray, J.A. Visual discrimination of color, pattern, and form in the Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica . Psychon Sci 5, 427–428 (1966). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331031
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03331031