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4 - A neural architecture for imitation and intentional relations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2009

By
Marco Iacoboni ,
Jonas Kaplan  and
Stephen Wilson
Edited by
Chrystopher L. Nehaniv  and
Kerstin Dautenhahn
Marco Iacoboni
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Neuropsychiatric Institute and Brain Research Institute, University of California, UK
Jonas Kaplan
Affiliation:
FPR-UCLA Center for Culture, Brain and Development, Department of Psychology, University of California USA,
Stephen Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Brain Research Institute, University of California USA,
Chrystopher L. Nehaniv
Affiliation:
University of Hertfordshire
Kerstin Dautenhahn
Affiliation:
University of Hertfordshire
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Summary

Imitation is an important form of learning, facilitating the acquisition of many skills without the time-consuming process of trial-and-error learning. Imitation is also associated with the ability to develop social skills and understand the goals, the intentions and the feelings of other people (Meltzoff and Prinz, 2002). The neural underpinnings of imitation and their possible evolutionary precursors have been recently investigated with different approaches, including neurological investigations, brain imaging, single cell recordings and computational models. This chapter discusses a neural architecture for imitation comprising superior temporal cortex, the rostral part of the posterior parietal cortex and inferior frontal cortex. The main thesis of the chapter is that the central role of imitation in the development of social skills is due to the functional properties of this neural architecture. These properties allow a common framework for third person knowledge (i.e. the observation of actions of others) and first person knowledge (i.e. internal motor plans).

Neurophysiology

Neurons in the superior temporal sulcus (STS) respond to moving biological stimuli, such as hands, faces and bodies (Jellema et al., 2002). The responses of some of these neurons occur only when the body or body part is engaged in goal-oriented actions, for instance when a hand reaches and grasps an object. The sight of a hand reaching toward the object but not grasping it will not activate these STS neurons. Point-light versions of the complete action, i.e. a hand reaching and grasping an object, however, do activate STS cells.

Type
Chapter
Information
Imitation and Social Learning in Robots, Humans and Animals
Behavioural, Social and Communicative Dimensions
 , pp. 71 - 88
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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  • A neural architecture for imitation and intentional relations
    • By Marco Iacoboni, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Neuropsychiatric Institute and Brain Research Institute, University of California, UK, Jonas Kaplan, FPR-UCLA Center for Culture, Brain and Development, Department of Psychology, University of California USA,, Stephen Wilson, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Brain Research Institute, University of California USA,
  • Edited by Chrystopher L. Nehaniv, University of Hertfordshire, Kerstin Dautenhahn, University of Hertfordshire
  • Book: Imitation and Social Learning in Robots, Humans and Animals
  • Online publication: 10 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511489808.007
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  • A neural architecture for imitation and intentional relations
    • By Marco Iacoboni, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Neuropsychiatric Institute and Brain Research Institute, University of California, UK, Jonas Kaplan, FPR-UCLA Center for Culture, Brain and Development, Department of Psychology, University of California USA,, Stephen Wilson, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Brain Research Institute, University of California USA,
  • Edited by Chrystopher L. Nehaniv, University of Hertfordshire, Kerstin Dautenhahn, University of Hertfordshire
  • Book: Imitation and Social Learning in Robots, Humans and Animals
  • Online publication: 10 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511489808.007
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • A neural architecture for imitation and intentional relations
    • By Marco Iacoboni, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Neuropsychiatric Institute and Brain Research Institute, University of California, UK, Jonas Kaplan, FPR-UCLA Center for Culture, Brain and Development, Department of Psychology, University of California USA,, Stephen Wilson, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Brain Research Institute, University of California USA,
  • Edited by Chrystopher L. Nehaniv, University of Hertfordshire, Kerstin Dautenhahn, University of Hertfordshire
  • Book: Imitation and Social Learning in Robots, Humans and Animals
  • Online publication: 10 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511489808.007
Available formats
×