imprinting

The learning of a behavioral pattern that occurs soon after birth or hatching in certain animals, in which a long-lasting response to an individual (such as a parent) or an object is rapidly acquired; it is particularly noted in the response of certain birds to the animal they first see after hatching, usually the parent, as in ducks who will follow the adult duck they first see.

Any kind of phase-sensitive learning (learning occurring at a particular age or a particular life stage) that is rapid and apparently independent of the consequences of behavior.

Present participle of imprint.

a learning process in early life whereby species specific patterns of behavior are established