Evolution, development and intentional control of imitation

Imitation is at the heart of social cognitive neuroscience. It is a neurocognitive process that bridges the gap between minds; powers cognitive and social development; promotes cooperation and well-being; and provides a channel of cultural inheritance. The papers in this theme issue review cutting-e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological sciences 2009-08, Vol.364 (1528), p.2293-2298
Main Author: Heyes, Cecilia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological Evolution
Cognition - physiology
Cognitive Control
Cooperation
Correspondence Problem
Cultural Inheritance
Culture
Humans
Imitation
Imitative Behavior - physiology
Introduction
Mirror System
Neurosciences
Social Behavior
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Summary:Imitation is at the heart of social cognitive neuroscience. It is a neurocognitive process that bridges the gap between minds; powers cognitive and social development; promotes cooperation and well-being; and provides a channel of cultural inheritance. The papers in this theme issue review cutting-edge research on imitation and report original data using all of the principal methodologies, including comparative, developmental, cognitive-behavioural and neurological techniques. This paper introduces these interdisciplinary contributions and, proposing that the field currently has four inter-related foci-correspondence, control, cooperation and cultural inheritance-offers an overview of the state-of-the-art in research on the mechanisms and functions of imitation.
ISSN:0962-8436
1471-2970
DOI:10.1098/rstb.2009.0049