Constitutional biases in early perceptual learning II. Visual preferences in artificially selected, visually naive and imprinted quail chicks (C. coturnix japonica).

Approach choices were tested in genetically and environmentally manipulated quail chicks with pairs of stimuli identical in size and luminance but different in color, flicker, or both color and flicker. Data indicated comparable flicker and vastly different color preferences in subjects that were bidirectionally selected for color choices. In the choices between composite stimuli, flicker effects dominated over color effects in genetic controls, and color effects over flicker effects in selected subjects. Imprinting to colors modified color preferences, but imprinting to white or colored flicker did not change, or only marginally changed, flicker preferences. Flicker in testing stimuli, however, influenced the phenotypic expression of acquired color preferences. The data are examined for implications about the nature of constitutional biases and constitution--environment interactions in early perception and perceptual learning.