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Enriched rearing facilitates spatial exploration in northern bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus ) neonates
Author(s) -
Lazic Maria,
Schneider Susan M.,
Lickliter Robert
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.20230
Subject(s) - colinus , bobwhite quail , spatial learning , spatial ability , zoology , psychology , biology , developmental psychology , ecology , quail , neuroscience , hippocampus , cognition
Rearing with enriched environmental complexity has been shown to enhance spatial exploration and spatial learning, among other benefits. Most studies examining enriched rearing effects have used extended periods of exposure in mammals; little is known about enrichment effects on avian species. We provided objects designed to encourage spatial exploration to socially raised northern bobwhite neonates; controls were socially raised without the enrichment devices. After 3–5 days of exposure, maze performance was assessed for 48 chicks. Chicks in the enriched group showed significantly more spatial activity in the maze than control chicks. These results extend the generality of spatial enrichment effects to birds and to a relatively short duration of enrichment exposure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 548‐551, 2007.