A Salmon Returns to Its Home Stream to Spawn

Question

A salmon returns to its home stream to spawn. What term best applies to this behavior?
A) sign stimulus
B) cognition
C) imprinting
D) classical conditioning
E) operant conditioning

Accepted Answer

The behavior of a salmon returning to its home stream to spawn is an example of imprinting, which is the learning that occurs during a critical period early in an animal's life and results in a strong association between a specific stimulus and a behavior. In this case, the salmon's critical period occurs when it returns to its natal stream during its reproductive cycle, and it becomes imprinted on that stream as its home location.