Social cognition: imitation, imitation, imitation.
Monkeys recognize when they are being imitated, but they seem unable to learn by imitation. These facts make sense if imitation is seen as two different capacities: social mirroring, when actions are matched and have social benefits; and learning by copying, when new behavioural routines are acquired by observation.
Byrne
Richard W
RW
Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, and Scottish Primate Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, Scotland.
D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011323:Primates / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity