SEXUAL APPROACH CONDITIONING - OMISSION CONTINGENCY TESTS

Male Japanese quail learned to approach a light that predicted visual exposure to a female quail. In Experiment 1, duration of visual exposu re to the female did not systematically affect the speed or strength o f conditioning. Introduction of an omission contingency for approach t o the light after acquisition did not suppress conditioned approach re lative to the performance of yoked controls. In Experiment 2, males le arned to approach a light that predicted visual exposure to a female d espite an omission contingency for approach in effect during acquisiti on. Experimental males were not slower to acquire the approach respons e under an omission contingency than were yoked controls. The findings indicate strong Pavlovian control of sexual conditioned approach in J apanese quail.