Horter M, Ducker G
Z Tierpsychol. 1976 Jan;40(1):15-36.
The main question of our investigation is: Do there exist age-specific learning abilities in animals? 120 QUAILS (Coturnix coturnix japonica) of 12 different age groups (between one day and 20 weeks) were tested in a combination apparatus 0y using two training methods. 60 quails were trained with decreasing (1), 60 other quails with increasing learning assistance (2). In each case the learning period lasted 5 days after which the animals were tested in a two-way choice apparatus and in a simple maze. Retention was tested 3 weeks later. - The 2 methods led to different results. In general the younger animals learnt better than the other ones when trained by method 1. No differences in learning performance between the 12 age groups were obtained by method 2.
动物是否存在特定年龄的学习能力？使用两种训练方法，在组合装置中对12个不同年龄组（1日龄至20周龄）的120只鹌鹑（日本鹌鹑）进行了测试。60只鹌鹑采用递减式训练（方法1），另外60只鹌鹑采用递增式学习辅助训练（方法2）。在每种情况下，学习期持续5天，之后在双向选择装置和简单迷宫中对动物进行测试。3周后测试记忆保持情况。——两种方法得出了不同的结果。一般来说，采用方法1训练时，年幼的动物比其他动物学得更好。采用方法2时，12个年龄组之间在学习表现上未发现差异。
