A specialization of taste aversion learning during suckling and its weaning‐associated transformation
- 1 November 1984
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Developmental Psychobiology
- Vol. 17 (6), 613-628
- https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.420170605
Abstract
During ontogenesis, altricial mammals advance through different ecological niches with require correspondingly different adaptive strategies. We view learning as an important feature of ontogenetic adaptations and consider the acquisition and expression of taste aversion learning during nursing with in this framework. Fifteeen‐day‐old preweanling rat pups fail to acquire conditioned taste aversions while nursing, whereas 20‐day‐old weanlings readily learn flavor aversions while suckling (Martin & Alberts, 1979). The developmental emergence of taste aversion learning while nursing coincides with reduction in maternal milk supply and the rat pup's transition to a solid food diet. We considered the ontogenetic transformation of learning while nursing as a feeding‐relaated adaptive strategy of the weanling rat and tested wot predictions derived from this view: (1) delayed weaning might postpone acquisition or expression of suckling‐related taste aversions and (2) conditions that permit weaning (e.g., acess to alternate food sources) might induce acquisition or expression of such taste aversions. Both predictions were confirmed.This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit:
- Appetitive conditioning in neonatal rats: Conditioned orientation to a novel odorDevelopmental Psychobiology, 1982
- Consummatory response conditioning to an auditory stimulus in neonatal ratsBehavioral and Neural Biology, 1982
- Selective associations in one-day-old rats: Taste–toxicosis and texture–shock aversion learning.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1982
- Suckling Infant Rats Learn a Preference for a Novel Olfactory Stimulus Paired with Milk DeliveryScience, 1981
- Classical conditioning of an odor preference in 3-day-old ratsBehavioral and Neural Biology, 1980
- Aversion learning in 5-day-old rats: Taste–toxicosis and texture–shock associations.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1980
- Ontogeny of long-term memory for learned taste aversionsBehavioral and Neural Biology, 1979
- Taste aversion learning in young and adult rats.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1977
- THE MILK-EJECTION REFLEX OF THE RAT: AN INTERMITTENT FUNCTION NOT ABOLISHED BY SURGICAL LEVELS OF ANAESTHESIAJournal of Endocrinology, 1973
- Ontogeny of memory.Psychological Review, 1972