Conditioning of sexual proceptivity in female quail: Measures of conditioned place preference

The present experiments were conducted to explore the nature of conditioned sexual proceptivity in female quail. Females exposed to males subsequently approached the area where the males were previously housed (Experiment 1). This increased preference for the male's area reflected an increase in female sexual proceptivity and not an increase in non-directed locomotor activity (Experiment 2). These findings provide the first evidence that female quail show conditioned responses that may be considered to be proceptive responses toward male conspecifics. The proceptive responses are expressed as tonic changes in preference for areas where males have been observed in the past rather than as specific phasic conditioned responses.

► Females exposed to males subsequently approached the area where the males were previously housed. ► Place preference reflected an increase in female proceptivity, not an increase in general activity. ► This is the first evidence that female quail show conditioned proceptive responses toward males.