Visual Imprinting in Birds: Behavior, Models, and Neural Mechanisms

Abstract

Filial imprinting is a process, readily observed in precocial birds, whereby a social attachment is established between a young animal and an object that is typically (although not necessarily) a parent. During a perinatal sensitive period, the young animal learns characteristics of the object (the imprinting stimulus) simply by being exposed to it and will subsequently recognize and selectively approach this stimulus. Imprinting can thus establish a filial bond with an individual adult: a form of social cohesion that may be crucial for survival. Behavioral predispositions can act together with the learning process of imprinting in the formation, maintenance, and modification of the filial bond. Memory of the imprinting stimulus, as well as being necessary for social recognition, is also used adaptively in perceptual classification of sensory signals. Abstract features of an imprinting stimulus, such as similarity or difference between stimulus components, can also be recognized. Studies of domestic chicks have elucidated the neural basis of much of the above behavior. This article discusses (1) principal behavioral characteristics of filial imprinting and related predispositions, (2) theoretical models that have been developed to account for this behavior, and (3) physiological results elucidating the underlying neural mechanisms. Interactions between these different levels of analysis have resulted in advancement of all of them. Taken together, the different approaches have helped define strategies for investigating mechanisms of learning, memory, and perception.

Stability and individual variability of social attachment in imprinting

“…According to this hypothesis, the preference for exploring objects slightly different from the imprinting stimulus would be useful to recognise different points of view of the mother hen and build a complete representation of it (Bateson, 1979;Jackson & Bateson, 1974;McCabe, 2019). This hypothesis is supported by other studies showing that when two stimuli are presented in close temporality, they became "blended" as a unique stimulus for the animals (Chantrey, 1974;Honey & Bateson, 1996).…”

“…Young social animals that move around soon after birth, such as ducklings and domestic chicks, require to stay in contact with conspecifics to survive and thrive (Versace & Vallortigara, 2015). It is not surprising, hence, that at the beginning of life they can quickly learn the features of the mother and stay in contact with her, a phenomenon known as filial imprinting (Bateson, 1966;Bolhuis, 1991;Hess, 1959;Lorenz, 1937;McCabe, 2019;Spalding, 1873;Vallortigara & Versace, 2018). In the case of chicks, as little as 15 minutes of visual exposure are sufficient to develop a learned preference for a conspicuous object (Bateson & Jaeckel, 1976).…”

The cow–calf relationship: from maternal responsiveness to the maternal bond and the possibilities for fostering

“…Research on filial imprinting progressed in what was effectively a laboratory setting, in the absence of mother hen. This research produced insights into the behavioural and neural mechanisms underlying the imprinting process (McCabe, 2019).…”

No evidence of spontaneous preference for slowly moving objects in visually naïve chicks

“…Filial imprinting has been described as a learning process through which the social behaviour of a young becomes restricted to a particular individual or object [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . Precocial animals such as domestic chicks develop a strong preference toward a stimulus in a short period of time.…”