Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Language Development

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...

Language

Language

Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...

Components of Language

Components of Language

Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...

Nonconscious Mimicry

Nonconscious Mimicry

Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.

The Nativist Approach

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...

Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game

Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game

The development of self in children is deeply rooted in social interactions, mainly through stages of play and structured games. These stages, outlined by sociologist George Herbert Mead, illustrate how children progressively learn to understand and adopt social roles, forming a cohesive sense of self.The Play Stage: Imitation and Simple Role-TakingIn the early years of childhood, the play stage is characterized by imitative behavior, where children engage in role-playing based on familiar...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Promoting agency and communication through powered mobility: a single-group, repeated measures intervention using the explorer mini in toddlers with motor disabilities.

Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences·2026

Same author

Brain activation during face perception: evidence of a developmental change.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2005

Same author

A PET exploration of the neural mechanisms involved in reciprocal imitation.

NeuroImage·2002

Same author

How the brain perceives causality: an event-related fMRI study.

Neuroreport·2001

Same author

Origins of theory of mind, cognition and communication.

Journal of communication disorders·1999

Same author

Children with autism fail to orient to naturally occurring social stimuli.

Journal of autism and developmental disorders·1999

Same journal

Development of Sensitivity to Geometry in Visual Forms.

Human evolution·2011

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

Imitation, Objects, Tools, and the Rudiments of Language in Human Ontogeny.

¹Department of Psychology University of Washington Seattle Washington 98195 USA.

Human Evolution

|September 3, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Human infants demonstrate impressive imitation skills from birth, including deferred imitation earlier than previously thought. This challenges traditional developmental timelines and suggests early links between cognitive and language development.

Keywords:

cognitive development imitation infants language object permanence

More Related Videos

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Published on: April 28, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Published on: April 28, 2016

Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Science
Linguistics

Background:

Classical theories posit imitation skills emerge later in infancy.
Facial gesture imitation is thought to develop around one year.
Deferred imitation is traditionally associated with 18-month cognitive shifts.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the early development of imitation in human infants.
To re-evaluate the timing of facial gesture and deferred imitation.
To explore specific links between nonverbal cognitive development and early language acquisition.

Main Methods:

Observational studies of infant imitation.
Experimental paradigms testing deferred imitation after delays.
Correlational analysis of cognitive milestones and semantic development.

Main Results:

Neonates demonstrate facial gesture imitation.
9-month-olds can perform deferred imitation after 24 hours.
14-month-olds retain multiple actions over a week-long delay.
Specific cognitive achievements correlate with semantic development (e.g., object permanence and disappearance words).

Conclusions:

Infant imitation capacity is significantly underestimated.
Early imitation skills challenge established developmental milestones.
Close, specific relationships exist between early cognitive and language development.