Preliminary evidence of a neurophysiological basis for individual discrimination in filial imprinting

Filial imprinting involves a predisposition for biologically important stimuli and a learning process directing preferences towards a particular stimulus. Learning underlies discrimination between imprinted and unfamiliar individuals and depends upon the IMM (intermediate and medial mesopallium). Here, IMM neurons responded differentially to familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics following socialization and the neurophysiological effects of social experience differed between hemispheres. Such findings may provide a neurophysiological basis for individual discrimination in imprinting.

► Filial imprinting involves learning to recognize individuals. ► Information about individuals is thought to be stored in the intermediate and medial mesopallium (IMM). ► IMM neurons respond differentially to familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics following social rearing. ► The effects of social rearing on neuronal responses to conspecifics differed between right and left IMM.