BEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN THE PIGEON FOLLOWING INHALATION OF MERCURY VAPOR

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962

OSTI ID:4817121

Armstrong, R D; Leach, L J; Belluscio, P R; Maynard, E A; Hodge, H C

A pigeon, motivated by food deprivation, was trained to peck on a translucent key in order to obtain a reward. food. The bird was then conditioned, in stages. to respond to more complex conditions, which included associating colored light with variations in the required pecking pattern. For example, when the key light was red. food was presented after each 60 pecks (a rate factor or fixed ratio). when the light was green, the first peck after 13 minutes was rewarded (a time factor or fixed interval). When stable behavior was established, the pigeon was then exposed to mercury vapor. Following inhalation of mercury at about 17 mg/m/sup 3/, marked changes in behavior occurred, as measured by a decrease in both the average number of pecks per fixed interval and the average number of pecks per second during fixed ratios. These parameters recovered to more nearly normal values when exposure was terminated. (auth)

• Research Organization: Rochester, N.Y. Univ. Atomic Energy Project
• NSA Number: NSA-16-025154
• OSTI ID: 4817121
• Report Number(s): UR-578
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BIRDS
LUNGS
MERCURY
NERVOUS SYSTEM
PHYSIOLOGY
PIGEONS
TOXICITY
VAPORS