Imitative learning
Imitative learning is a type of social learning whereby new behaviors are acquired via imitation.[1] Imitation aids in communication, social interaction, and the ability to modulate one's emotions to account for the emotions of others, and is "essential for healthy sensorimotor development and social functioning".[1] The ability to match one's actions to those observed in others occurs in humans and animals;[1] imitative learning plays an important role in humans in cultural development.[2]
Imitative learning in animals
On the most basic level, research performed by A.L. Saggerson, David N. George, and R.C. Honey showed that pigeons were able to learn a basic process that would lead to the delivery of a reward by watching a demonstrator pigeon. [3] A demonstrator pigeon was trained to peck a panel in response to one stimulus (e.g. a red light) and hop on the panel in response to a second stimulus (e.g. a green light). After proficiency in this task was established in the demonstrator pigeon, other learner pigeons were placed in a video-monitored observation chamber. After every second observed trial, these learner pigeons were then individually placed in the demonstrator pigeon's box and presented the same test. When compared with the
References
- ^ a b c Ganos C, Ogrzal T, Schnitzler A, Münchau A (September 2012). "The pathophysiology of echopraxia/echolalia: relevance to Gilles de la Tourette syndrome". Mov. Disord. 27 (10): 1222–9. doi:10.1002/mds.25103. PMID 22807284.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Heyes C (Aug 5, 2012). "Grist and mills: on the cultural origins of cultural learning". Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 367 (1599): 2181–91. doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0120. PMC 3385685. PMID 22734061.
- ^ Saggerson, George, & Honey. (2005). Journal of Experimental Psychology Animal Behavior Processes, 31 (3), 289 –300.
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