Social feeding reverses learned flavor aversions in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta).
Spotted hyenas are highly social carnivores with competitive feeding habits. It was hypothesized that social feeding might be capable of reversing an established flavor aversion. The dominant hyena of each of 4 captive social groups was given a novel food mixed with LiCl on Day 1; aversion to this food was demonstrated on Day 2. On Day 3, the dominant hyena and 3 or 4 members of her group were offered the food simultaneously. Three of the 4 dominant hyenas ate substantial quantities of the food during this group feeding, and all 4 hyenas ate the following day when offered the food alone. In contrast, when averted to a different novel food, the hyenas refused that food on 3 consecutive days. In this species social factors, such as those operating during group feeding, are sufficiently powerful to attenuate, immediately and dramatically, a strong LiCl-induced aversion.
Yoerg
S I
SI
Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D002335:Carnivora / Q000523:psychology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000633:toxicity; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008094:Lithium / Q000633:toxicity; D018021:Lithium Chloride; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D012930:Social Dominance; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects
D002712:Chlorides; D008094:Lithium; D018021:Lithium Chloride