| Abstract: | The speed of learning to discriminate between the colors blue and green was studied in dark-raised chicks and in chicks having controlled exposure to these colors and white prior to learning. The data indicate that: (1) under all conditions of prior experience learning was faster when the response to blue was reinforced; (2) learning was significantly slower in dark-raised groups than in groups having prior visual experience; and (3) learning was negatively related to systematic increase in the intensity of prior exposure stimulus. These data show that unlearned preferences play a significant role in learning; they combine additively with effects of experience prior to learning and reinforcement during learning. |
