Mate call as reward: Acoustic communication signals can acquire positive reinforcing values during adulthood in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

Alexandra M Hernandez (1, 2) , Emilie C. Perez (1, 2) , Hervé Mulard (1, 2) , Nicolas Mathevon (1, 2) , Clémentine Vignal (1, 2)

1 ENES - Sensory Neuro-Ethology
2 NeuroPSI - Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay

Social stimuli can have rewarding properties and promote learning. In birds, conspecific vocalizations like song can act as a reinforcer, and specific song variants can acquire particular rewarding values during early life exposure. Here we ask if, during adulthood, an acoustic signal simpler and shorter than song can become a reward for a female songbird because of its particular social value. Using an operant choice apparatus, we showed that female zebra finches display a preferential response toward their mate's calls. This reinforcing value of mate's calls could be involved in the maintenance of the monogamous pair-bond of the zebra finch. (PsycINFO Database Record

Domaines: Neurobiologie; Psychologie et comportements; Sciences cognitives

Alexandra M Hernandez, Emilie C. Perez, Hervé Mulard, Nicolas Mathevon, Clémentine Vignal. Mate call as reward: Acoustic communication signals can acquire positive reinforcing values during adulthood in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).. Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983), 2016, 130 (1), pp.36-43. ⟨10.1037/a0040027⟩. ⟨hal-01304630⟩