Observational learning/imitation-why is it important and what mechanisms are needed to make it work? (neuroscience)

Imitation is a complex form of social learning. Individuals benefit immensely from social learning. To learn a new task by copying (imitating) skilled performers is a clever way to avoid making unnecessary mistakes in order to search for the correct solutions. It reduces the amount of time spend on learning how to solve a particular task or situation. It also speeds up the process of learning of motor skills and "environmental affordances" in the world. …showed first 75 words of 2534 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2534 total…Chimps in the wild show stirrings of culture. 3. McGrew, W. C. (1998) Culture in non-human primates. Ann. Rev. Anthropol 27, 301-328. 4. Tomasello, M. Do apes ape? In C.M. Heyes and B.G. Galef (eds) Social learning in animals: the roots of culture. 5. Miklosi, A. (1999) The ethological analysis of imitation. Biol. Rev. 74, 347-374. 6. Rizzolatti, G and M.A. Arbib (1998) Language within our grasp. Trends in Neuroscience 21, 188_194. 7. Handout and Lecture notes, Autumn 2001, Prof. Tom Collett at Sussex University.