Approach and departure patterns generated in the domestic chick by intermittent white light

Abstract

Newly hatched domestic chicks were given extended free access to 7 rates of intermittent white light between .5 and 24 flashes per sec. Inspection of the data showed approaches and departures directed toward the light that increased in number and formed an orderly pattern as the rates neared 4 per sec and as the chicks exposed to this rate became older. Also, no differences were found in the amount of time chicks remained next to the various rates during each approach but only in the amount of time they remained away during each departure. The bearing of these results on the proposal that flicker phototaxis might stem from the neural excitation produced through photic driving was discussed along with relating further evidence to recent work in imprinting.