The releasers of imprinting: Differential reactions to color as a function of maturation.

Abstract

The approach reactions to colored objects, including a sibling, were tested in White Rock chicks from 1 to 5 days of age. The sibling was the best "releasing" object, and was the only one eliciting approach on the 1st day of life. The pattern of response to chicks and to objects of their color supports the suggestion that on the 1st 2 days the chick is attracted to the flock, and after that period to objects resembling the mother. From Psyc Abstracts 36:05:5EC97G. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)