The proposed research is a continuation of a systematic program of inquiry concerned with the basic mechanisms of learning in a sexual behavior system. Sexual behavior has been the focus of extensive research by biologists, psychologists, and other scientists. The study of learning mechanisms also has had a long and distinguished history. Rarely, however, have these two lines of investigation been integrated. A model will be used according to which sexual behavior occurs in response to species typical cues, local cues, and contextual cues. Our previous research has focused on identifying the nature of species typical cues in a sexual behavior system and on demonstrating forms of learning that involve species typical and local cues. The proposed research will broaden the investigation by focusing on the role of the context in which species typical and local cues are encountered, by comparing the conditioning of contextual cues to the conditioning of more focal stimuli in the framework of several important learning variables (the CS-US interval, blocking, and US preexposure), by exploring modulatory learning influences on sexual behavior, by exploring the functional significance of sexually conditioned behavior, and by investigating the hormonal bases of conditioned sexual behavior. The research will provide information about the generality of learning processes, which is critical for the development of theories of learning and for efforts to discover the physiological substrates of learning using simple neural preparations. The research will also provide clues about some of the ways in which learning may contribute to, and be shaped by, natural selection, and begin to provide information about the relationship between sexual learning, sexual motivation, and the performance of conditioned sexual behavior.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37MH039940-08
Application #
2244834
Study Section
Psychobiology and Behavior Review Committee (PYB)
Project Start
1987-04-01
Project End
1997-04-30
Budget Start
1994-05-01
Budget End
1995-04-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Gutierrez, German; Domjan, Michael (2011) Conditioning of sexual proceptivity in female quail: measures of conditioned place preference. Behav Processes 87:268-73
Matthews, R Nicolle; Domjan, Michael; Ramsey, Mary et al. (2007) Learning effects on sperm competition and reproductive fitness. Psychol Sci 18:758-62
Cetinkaya, Hakan; Domjan, Michael (2006) Sexual fetishism in a quail (Coturnix japonica) model system: test of reproductive success. J Comp Psychol 120:427-32
Domjan, Michael (2005) Pavlovian conditioning: a functional perspective. Annu Rev Psychol 56:179-206
Domjan, Michael; Cusato, Brian; Krause, Mark (2004) Learning with arbitrary versus ecological conditioned stimuli: evidence from sexual conditioning. Psychon Bull Rev 11:232-46
Koksal, Falih; Domjan, Michael; Kurt, Adnan et al. (2004) An animal model of fetishism. Behav Res Ther 42:1421-34
Domjan, Michael; Mahometa, Michael J; Mills, Andrew D (2003) Relative contributions of the male and the female to sexual behavior and reproductive success in the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). J Comp Psychol 117:391-9
Krause, Mark A; Cusato, Brian; Domjan, Michael (2003) Extinction of conditioned sexual responses in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica): role of species-typical cues. J Comp Psychol 117:76-86
Krause, Mark (2003) Behavioral mechanisms and the neurobiology of conditioned sexual responding. Int Rev Neurobiol 56:1-34
Burns, M; Domjan, M (2001) Topography of spatially directed conditioned responding: effects of context and trial duration. J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process 27:269-78

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