Recovery from experimentally induced problem-solving deficits in neonatal Peking ducklings as a function of environmental stimulation.
Neonatal Peking ducklings were reared in 3 different environments containing varied light and sound stimulation. One group was exposed to the stimulative environment only during the last 3 prenatal days, 1 group was placed in the stimulative environment at the time of hatching, and the 3rd group was exposed to the stimulative environment both pre- and postnatally. No differences in performance in a detour learning task were noted between controls and experimentals from the 1st 2 groups (prenatal stimulation only and postnatal stimulation only); however, the group receiving both pre- and postnatal stimulation solved the detour task significantly faster than their controls. This learning improvement as a function of the stimulative environment represents a partial recovery from the deficit produced as a result of the experimental paradigm in which the shell covering the air space was replaced with clear plastic wrap, a procedure which has been shown to reduce oxygen consumption and lead to learning retardation.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D004372:Ducks / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology