Neonatal Imitation in Rhesus Macaques
2006
Neonatal Imitation in Rhesus Macaques
Sample size: 21
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Pier Ferrari, Stephen Suomi
Hypothesis
Can rhesus monkeys imitate human facial gestures?
Conclusion
Rhesus infants can imitate certain human facial gestures, suggesting that imitation is not unique to great apes.
Supporting Evidence
- Rhesus infants can imitate human tongue protrusion and lip smacking.
- Imitation behavior appears to emerge around three days after birth.
- The imitation window in rhesus monkeys is shorter than in humans and chimps.
Takeaway
Baby monkeys can copy some human facial expressions, but only for a short time after they are born.
Methodology
The study tested 21 baby rhesus monkeys' responses to various gestures at different ages.
Limitations
The study only examined a narrow range of gestures and may not reflect broader imitative abilities.
Participant Demographics
Rhesus monkeys, specifically infants aged 1 to 14 days.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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