| Abstract: | 294 Peking ducklings, aged 1–24 days posthatch, were tested in 3 experiments involving 3 different problem-solving situations: a delayed response task, spatial habit reversal learning, and a detour problem. In the delayed response task, the length of the delay did not improve significantly with increasing age, averaging 1.6 sec on Day 1 and 2.8 sec on Day 14. In the habit reversal learning, Ss were tested longitudinally beginning on Days 1, 2, 3, and 4. In each group, errors decreased rapidly and progressively with successive reversals, with this steady improvement resembling that found in adult birds and mammals. In the detour problem, groups of Ss were tested longitudinally, beginning on Days 1–6. In groups started at each age, learning was rapid, with criterion usually met within the 1st 1 or 2 days of testing. Even when testing began on Day 1, the Ss typically solved the problem on the 1st or 2nd day of testing, requiring a mean of 10.78 trials to criterion. Results suggest that the neonatal Peking duckling is well equipped to deal with its environment and is capable of a high level of adaptive modification in response to externally imposed stimulus contingencies. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
