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Spatial S-R compatibility effects in an intentional imitation task.
1University College London, London, England. c.heyes@ucl.ac.uk
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|December 8, 2004
Summary
The active intermodal mapping hypothesis was not supported. Imitation relies on general stimulus-response processes, not a special actor-centered movement encoding mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- The active intermodal mapping hypothesis posits a specialized mechanism for imitation.
- This mechanism involves actor-centered movement encoding for intentional imitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the validity of the active intermodal mapping hypothesis.
- To determine if imitation relies on a special-purpose mechanism or general processes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized stimulus-response (S-R) compatibility research methods.
- Conducted two experiments with adult participants imitating head, arm, and leg movements.
- Manipulated egocentric spatial cues and response compatibility.
Main Results:
- Found no evidence supporting the active intermodal mapping hypothesis.
- Participant performance was influenced by task-irrelevant egocentric spatial cues.
- Demonstrated effects of response compatibility and body-side usage (same vs. opposite).
Conclusions:
- Intentional imitation is likely mediated by general processes, not a specialized actor-centered mechanism.
- Imitation shares underlying mechanisms with responding to inanimate stimuli based on arbitrary S-R mappings.
- Findings align with general process theories of imitation.