Perceptual imprinting: genetic influences and genotype-environment interactions

One-day-old visually naive and experienced quail chicks (C. coturnix japonica) were mass-screened for approach preferences by pairs of stimuli that were identical in size and luminance but different in color, or pattern, or both color and pattern. Subjects were drawn from the 18th generation of quail lines that were bidirectionally selected for color preferences, and from an unselected genetic control line. Experience consisted of 12 hr of unreinforced perceptual exposure to colored or white stimuli, with and without associated pattern. Data indicated strong genetic influences in the preferences of exposure to color and pattern resulted in selective learning of color but not pattern. Systematic variations in postexposure choices between composite stimuli of colors and pattern. Systematic variations in postexposure choices between composite stimuli of colors and patterns were traced to variations of genotype, experience, and genotype-experience interactions.