A particular kind of learning characterized by its occurrence in the first few hours of life, and which determines species-recognition behavior.
- genomic i. epigenetic process that leads to inactivation of paternal or maternal allele of certain genes susceptible to epigenetic regulation; accounts, among others, for the Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes.
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im·print·ing 'im-.print-iŋ, im-' n
1) a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal (as a greylag goose) and establishes a behavior pattern (as recognition of and attraction to its own kind or a substitute)
2) GENOMIC IMPRINTING
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n.
(in animal behaviour) a rapid and irreversible form of learning that takes place in some animals during the first hours of life. Animals attach themselves in this way to members of their own species, but if they are exposed to creatures of a different species during this short period, they become attached to this species instead.
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im·print·ing (im-printґing) rapid learning of species-specific behavior patterns that occurs with exposure to the proper stimulus at a sensitive period of early life.Medical dictionary. 2011.