Operant escape learning in decerebrate duck embryos.

Peking duck embryos were trained in an operant escape task on Day 25 of incubation (total incubation period = 27 days) following decerebration on Day 24 of incubation. Experimental embryos successfully acquired the operant response, which involved the performance of a discrete foot flexion in order to terminate a shock applied to the wing. The decerebrate embryos resembled normal, unoperated embryos of this age in their acquisition of the operant behavior. This study demonstrates that this form of learning can be acquired without benefit of telencephalic structures, at least at this point in development. Differences in the consequences of decerebration during prenatal or neonatal versus adult stages are discussed.