Increased distractability in capons: an adult parallel to androgen-induced effects in the domestic chick

In the male domestic chick, one consequence of the stabilisation of attention by testosterone is an increased ability to pass conspicuous novel features introduced within a runway, in order to continue and reach food. Cocks are here shown to be better able to do this than capons. When faced with such conspicuous change (coloured panels suspended on the runway walls, coloured tapes attached to the food dish), capons instead began to search for food elsewhere within the runway, and to show other signs of shifting attention, such as looking up in preparation for leaving the runway. Capons receiving testosterone therapy behaved more like cocks. It is thus likely that testicular androgens stabilise attention in adult cocks. Since the corresponding effect in young chicks has short latency, (unlike classic effects of testosterone on attack and copulation), the same may be true in adults. Facilitation of attack and stabilisation of attention, as separate effects of testosterone, may interact to bring about greater confidence in dominant adult cocks with elevated levels of testosterone.