title: Effects of perinatal visual stimulation on preference, growth, and mortality in African clawed frogs (Xenopus Laevis).
abstract: Two exploratory experiments examined the effects of flashing light stimulation on growth, mortality, and behavioral preferences of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Experiment 1 showed that tadpoles exposed to continuous visual stimulation, from egg-laying through postnatal day 40, had significantly higher mortality rates and weighed significantly less than controls. In contrast to controls, experimental tadpoles showed a preference for visual stimulation throughout early development. Results support the notion that augmented visual stimulation during early development affects species-typical development and the creation of postnatal preferences. Experiment 2 exposed subjects to propranolol in their water to investigate a potential sympathetic nervous system (SNS) mechanism responsible for the previous results. Tadpoles exposed to propranolol and visual stimulation simultaneously did not show a preference for the visual stimulation. Although this preliminary finding suggests SNS involvement, this notion deserves further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Merry J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sleigh
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012931:Social Environment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol