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Updated: May 29, 2026

Assessing Species-specific Contributions To Craniofacial Development Using Quail-duck Chimeras
Published on: May 31, 2014
Influence of a mobile robot on the spatial behaviour of quail chicks
E de Margerie1, S Lumineau, C Houdelier
1CNRS UMR 6552 Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France. emmanuel.demargerie@univ-rennes1.fr
Abstract:
Quail chicks encountered an autonomous mobile robot during their early development. The robot incorporated a heat source that stimulated following of chicks. The spatial behaviour of grown-up chicks was tested in an exploration test and a detour test. Chicks that grew with the mobile robot exhibited better spatial abilities than chicks grown with a static heat source. We discuss these results in the perspective of animal-robot interaction and of the role of early spatial experience on the behavioural development.

