Imprinting - tipe of learning in birds

Abstract

Imprint je način učenja koji nastupa kada životinjsku jedinku dok se nalazi u osjetljivom periodu izložimo određenim stimulansima, izazivajući kao reakciju trajne promjene ponašanja. Najprisutnije vrste imprinta su filialni i seksualni imprint. Osjetljivi period u kojem je jedinku moguće imprintati varira zavisno o vrsti životinje i vrsti samog imprinta. Fenomen imprinta prisutan je kod nekih vrsta sisavaca, a posebno kod ptica. Učinci mogu ostati prisutni tokom cijelog života jedinke, ali nisu uvijek potpuno ireverzibilni iako se isprva, u nekim slučajevima mogu doimati takvima. Ireverzibilnost kao i drugi aspekti imprinta, ovisi o vrsti životinje koju se imprinta, trenutku u kojem se imprint odvija, intenzitetu postupka, te mnogim drugim čimbenicima.Imprinting is an individual animal`s learning to respond to a sign stimulus (realeaser) only at a particular time (sensitive period) of it life and often retaining this response throughout its life. The most immanent are the sexual and filial imprinting. The duration, and timing of sensitive periods varies depending on the imprinting species and the nature of the imprinting (sexual, filial...). The phenomenon of imprinting is clearly present in the development of some mamals, and especially birds. The affects of imprinting can be retained throughout entire life of an animal, but they are not completely irreversible. Irreversibility, as well as some other aspects of imprinting, depends on the imprinting species, the time period in which it`s taking place, intensity, and many other factors