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Perceiving imitatible stimuli: consequences of isomorphism between input and output
1Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, USA. margaret_wilson@ndsu.nodak.edu
Psychological Bulletin
|July 7, 2001
Summary
Psychologists explore the link between perceiving and performing actions. Evidence shows input and output representations are isomorphic, enabling rapid, effortless imitation and influencing various cognitive functions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Psychologists have long theorized a connection between mental representations of perceived and performed actions.
- This connection is explored through the lens of imitation and its cognitive underpinnings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between input (perception) and output (action performance) representations.
- To understand how this relationship facilitates imitation and influences various cognitive processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of a broad range of existing evidence.
- Theoretical analysis of the concept of imitatibility.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests input and output representations are isomorphic for imitatible stimuli.
- This isomorphism allows for rapid, effortless, and potentially obligatory mutual influence between perception and motoric planning.
Conclusions:
- The cognitive consequences of imitatibility are fundamental to diverse phenomena.
- These include phoneme perception, infant imitation, memory, stimulus-response compatibility, aphasia, rehearsal, and social behaviors like language acquisition and empathy.