imprinting | learning behaviour - Encyclopedia Britannica

imprinting, in psychobiology, a form of learning in which a very young animal fixes its attention on the first object with which it has visual, auditory, ... imprinting TableofContents Introduction FastFacts RelatedContent Media Images More MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Health&Medicine Psychology&MentalHealth imprinting learningbehaviour Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/imprinting-learning-behaviour More GiveFeedback Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica • EditHistory KeyPeople: KonradLorenz ...(Showmore) RelatedTopics: attachmenttheory associativelearning filialimprinting ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ imprinting,inpsychobiology,aformoflearninginwhichaveryyounganimalfixesitsattentiononthefirstobjectwithwhichithasvisual,auditory,ortactileexperienceandthereafterfollowsthatobject.Innaturetheobjectisalmostinvariablyaparent;inexperiments,otheranimalsandinanimateobjectshavebeenused.Imprintinghasbeenintensivelystudiedonlyinbirds,especiallychickens,ducks,andgeese,butacomparableformoflearningapparentlyoccursintheyoungofmanymammalsandsomefishesandinsects.Inmallardducklingsanddomesticchicks,imprintingcanbeaccomplishedinafewhours,butreceptivitytoimprintingstimulivanishesattheageofabout30hours. ReadMoreonThisTopic animallearning:Imprinting Theyoungofmanyspeciesarebornrelativelyhelpless:insongbirds,rats,cats,dogs,andprimates,thehatchlingornewborninfantis...