Role of telereceptive and interoceptive (taste) cues in ingestional neophobia in chicks (Gallus domesticus)

Experiment 1 investigated the influence of telereceptive (visual) and interoceptive (taste) cues on neophobia by measuring the intakes of clear water and novel solutions of red-colored water, clear 4.0% vinegar, or red-colored 4.0% vinegar in chicks (Gallus domesticus) on 5 test days. Neophobia was reliably greater the more numerous the novel stimuli in testing (i.e., red-colored vinegar) but was similar in magnitude for novel visual and novel taste cues alone. In Experiment 2 chicks received zero, one, or five preexposures to red-colored water or to clear 4.0% vinegar and were tested for neophobia to red-colored 4.0% vinegar. Intake of red vinegar reliably increased with the number of preexposures. However, preexposure to red-colored water facilitated intake of red vinegar more than preexposure to clear 4.0% vinegar did. These results suggest that the familiarity of telereceptive (visual) stimuli attenuates the demonstration of taste neophobia.