In ethology, a rapid early learning of identifying features of parents (filial imprinting) and/or of mating partners (sexual imprinting). Also considered to be the process by which early experience promotes the development of perceptual mechanisms. It is often restricted to a critical or sensitive period, particularly in birds.
See Competitive exclusion model, Critical period, Ethology, Experience, Exposure learning, Filial imprinting, Learning, Sensitive period, Sexual imprinting