Imprinting. The interaction of learned and innate behavior: III. Practice effects on performance, retention and fear.

Abstract

24 neonate chicks were given imprinting sessions lasting 5, 10, 20, and 40 minutes per day over the first 4 days of life. A session consisted of exposing the bird individually to a green cube which moved irregularly about an alley. At 30 and 70 days retention sessions were given all Sa The main conclusions regarding this breed are: imprinting is a positive function of practice, retention of imprinting is a function of neonatal practice, warm-up effects in following responses are observed at later test sessions, and no sex differences in imprinting are found. (see 33; 525).