Experience-based priming of body parts: A study of action imitation

Gillmeister, Helge; Catmur, Caroline; Liepelt, Roman; Braß, Marcel; Heyes, Cecilia

doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2007.12.076

Cited by 104 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…The results of the transfer test are consistent with those of human studies showing that incompatible sensorimotor experience-performing one action while observing an alternative action-can abolish [4,24] and reverse automatic imitation [25,26]. For example, using TMS, Catmur et al [25] found that, prior to training, observation of index finger movement yielded larger TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in an index finger muscle than in a little finger muscle, and vice versa for observation of little finger movement.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Automatic imitation in dogs

2010

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After preliminary training to open a sliding door using their head and their paw, dogs were given a discrimination task in which they were rewarded with food for opening the door using the same method (head or paw) as demonstrated by their owner (compatible group), or for opening the door using the alternative method (incompatible group). The incompatible group, which had to counterimitate to receive food reward, required more trials to reach a fixed criterion of discrimination performance (85% correct) than the compatible group. This suggests that, like humans, dogs are subject to 'automatic imitation'; they cannot inhibit online the tendency to imitate head use and/or paw use. In a subsequent transfer test, where all dogs were required to imitate their owners' head and paw use for food reward, the incompatible group made a greater proportion of incorrect, counterimitative responses than the compatible group. These results are consistent with the associative sequence learning model, which suggests that the development of imitation depends on sensorimotor experience and phylogenetically general mechanisms of associative learning. More specifically, they suggest that the imitative behaviour of dogs is shaped more by their developmental interactions with humans than by their evolutionary history of domestication.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Automatic imitation in dogs

2010

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“…Twenty-four hours after training of this kind, responding in incompatible trials was as fast as responding in compatible trials. Gillmeister et al (2008) demonstrated a comparable reduction in automatic imitation of hand and foot actions following incompatible sensorimotor experience, while Catmur et al (2007) showed that, in the case of little-and index-finger abduction movements, incompatible sensorimotor experience can reverse automatic imitation, producing a systematic, involuntary tendency to counter-imitate the observed action (see below). On the basis of associative learning theory, incompatible sensorimotor training would be expected to establish new, non-matching vertical associations, e.g.…”

Section: Sensorimotor Learning and Imitationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Associative sequence learning: the role of experience in the development of imitation and the mirror system

Catmur

Walsh

Heyes

2009

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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A core requirement for imitation is a capacity to solve the correspondence problem; to map observed onto executed actions, even when observation and execution yield sensory inputs in different modalities and coordinate frames. Until recently, it was assumed that the human capacity to solve the correspondence problem is innate. However, it is now becoming apparent that, as predicted by the associative sequence learning model, experience, and especially sensorimotor experience, plays a critical role in the development of imitation. We review evidence from studies of non-human animals, children and adults, focusing on research in cognitive neuroscience that uses training and naturally occurring variations in expertise to examine the role of experience in the formation of the mirror system. The relevance of this research depends on the widely held assumption that the mirror system plays a causal role in generating imitative behaviour. We also report original data supporting this assumption. These data show that theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation of the inferior frontal gyrus, a classical mirror system area, disrupts automatic imitation of finger movements. We discuss the implications of the evidence reviewed for the evolution, development and intentional control of imitation.

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“…The imitation treatment stimuli comprised images of the resting and endpoint positions of hand and foot lifting actions (Gillmeister, Catmur, Liepelt, Brass, & Heyes, 2008). Both hand and foot were present in the resting position, centered vertically on the screen, on every trial.…”

Section: Stimulimentioning

confidence: 99%

Is It What You Do, or When You Do It? The Roles of Contingency and Similarity in Pro‐Social Effects of Imitation

Catmur

Heyes

2013

Cognitive Science

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Being imitated has a wide range of pro-social effects, but it is not clear how these effects are mediated. Naturalistic studies of the effects of being imitated have not established whether pro-social outcomes are due to the similarity and/or the contingency between the movements performed by the actor and those of the imitator. Similarity is often assumed to be the active ingredient, but we hypothesized that contingency might also be important, as it produces positive affect in infants and can be detected by phylogenetically ancient mechanisms of associative learning. We manipulated similarity and contingency between performed and observed actions in a computerized task. Similarity had no positive effects; however, contingency resulted in greater enjoyment of the task, reported closeness to others, and helping behavior. These results suggest that the pro-social effects of being imitated may rely on associative mechanisms.

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Experience-based priming of body parts: A study of action imitation

Cited by 104 publications

References 67 publications

Automatic imitation in dogs

Automatic imitation in dogs

Associative sequence learning: the role of experience in the development of imitation and the mirror system

Is It What You Do, or When You Do It? The Roles of Contingency and Similarity in Pro‐Social Effects of Imitation

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