An Exploration of Testosterone Mediated Effects on Auditory Learning in Northern Bobwhite Quail

Elevated yolk progesterone has been shown to impair prenatal, but facilitate
postnatal auditory learning in bobwhite quail chicks. Elevated yolk testosterone has
facilitated prenatal learning, but its effects on postnatal auditory learning in quail are
unknown. Either testosterone or an oil vehicle was injected into bobwhite quail eggs prior
to incubation. Control eggs were unmanipulated. Following hatching, chicks were
exposed to a conspecific maternal call (A or B) for 240 min. At 48 hr, chicks were tested
for their preference for the familiarized vs. novel call. All groups demonstrated a
preference for the familiar call (p < .05), but minimal between group difference were
found. Contrary to previous research, elevated yolk testosterone neither facilitated nor
impaired postnatal auditory learning in bobwhite quail chicks. Further research will
examine underlying mechanisms responsible for differential effects and explore if similar
systems are involved in other species-typical processes such as social motivation.