Priming of ducklings' responses by presenting an imprinted stimulus.

Effects of food primes on the operant behavior of nondeprived rats

“…Since priming effects have also been found with milk (panksepp & Trowill, 1967), brain stimulation (Deutsch & Howarth, 1963), and an imprinting object (Eiserer & Hoffman, 1973), one might speculate that all stimuli which possess reinforcing properties may possess priming properties as well.…”

“…A comparable motivational view has been offered as a possible explanation for priming effects demonstrated in the laboratory with both brain stimulation and an imprinting object (Deutsch & Howarth, 1963;Eiserer & Hoffman, 1973). Importantly, strong support for this motivational hypothesis has been provided by studies showing a fair amount of specificity in priming effects when, for example, brain stimulation is pitted against water reward (Deutsch, Adams, & Metzner, 1964) or when water is pitted against food (Konorski, 1967).…”

“…While Experiment 1 involved responses that were always reinforced, studies with both brain stimulation and an imprinting object have shown that primes with those stimuli are able to facilitate even responses undergoing extinction (Deutsch & Howarth, 1963;Eiserer & Hoffman, 1973). The question thus arises as to whether food primes can have the same effect.…”

“…Comparable priming effects can also be readily demonstrated in the context of imprinting (Eiserer, 1977;Eiserer & Hoffman, 1973). Thus, ducklings trained to peck a pole for the rewarding presentation of an imprinting object can be induced, via a brief stimulus presentation, to respond during periods when they are otherwise little inclined to respond.…”

“…Much has been made of this fact in the past; indeed, it has been asserted that priming effects represent one of several phenomena which indio cate the existence of fundamental differences between brain stimulation and an imprinting object, on the one hand, and conventional reinforcers, on the other (regarding brain stimulation, see Gallistel, 1973; Requests for reprints should be sent to the author at Whitely Psychology Laboratories, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604. Panksepp, & Gandelman, 1969; regarding imprinting, see Eiserer & Hoffman, 1973).…”