Prenatally elevated physiological arousal interferes with perceptual learning in bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) embryos.
Neonatal studies suggest elevated arousal can negatively influence perceptual and cognitive processes during early development. The authors explored this issue during the prenatal period by pharmacologically elevating physiological arousal in bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) embryos during exposure to a maternal call, then assessing preference for the familiar call following hatching. Embryos receiving norepinephrine showed a prenatal elevation in heart rate and failed to demonstrate a preference for the familiar call following hatching. Embryos not receiving norepinephrine showed no elevation in heart rate and demonstrated a preference for the familiar call. These results indicate elevated arousal can interfere with perceptual learning during the prenatal period and provide additional evidence for an optimal window of arousal necessary to foster species-typical perceptual functioning during early development.
Markham
Rebecca G
RG
Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
Toth
Gabriella
G
Lickliter
Robert
R
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003088:Colinus / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D009638:Norepinephrine