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Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
Neonatal imitation in rhesus macaques.
Pier F Ferrari1, Elisabetta Visalberghi, Annika Paukner
1Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva e Funzionale, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy. ferrari@biol.unipr.it
Plos Biology
|September 7, 2006
Summary
Infant rhesus macaques exhibit neonatal imitation of specific facial gestures like lip smacking and tongue protrusion. This early social behavior, previously thought unique to apes and humans, suggests broader evolutionary origins in primate communication.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Developmental Psychology
- Ethology
Background:
- Early social behaviors are vital for mother-infant bonding.
- Neonatal imitation was previously believed to be exclusive to humans and apes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neonatal imitation in infant rhesus macaques.
- To examine responses to human facial and hand gestures.
Main Methods:
- Infant rhesus macaques were exposed to human facial gestures (lip smacking, tongue protrusion, mouth opening) and hand gestures.
- Behavioral responses were recorded and analyzed on the first and third days of life.
Main Results:
- Infant macaques imitated lip smacking and tongue protrusion by the third day of life.
- Mouth openings elicited lip smacking in infants on the first day.
- Imitative responses were observed within a narrow developmental window.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal imitation is present in nonhuman primates, specifically rhesus macaques.
- Imitative capacities are not unique to the human and ape lineage.
- Early imitation may facilitate affiliative responses and have evolved from communicative gestures.
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