Imitation: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases

Imitation is imitation based on a model or exemplar, which is now valued as an important process for human learning. From a neurological perspective, mirror neurons are particularly relevant in the context of imitation. For example, an imitative disorder is hypochondriasis, in which patients are convinced of a nonexistent disease of their own person.

What is imitation?

Imitation is imitation based on a model or exemplar, which is now valued as an important process for human learning. Imitation is the imitation. Imitation is medically relevant, for example, to cognitivist learning theory, which focuses on learning processes from the model. Such learning processes take place under the observation of human models, which do not necessarily also have to be present in person. Imitation learning is the third form of human learning processes. Model learning builds new behaviors, modifies existing behaviors, and creates discriminative cue stimuli that facilitate previously learned behaviors. Imitation is also a relevant concept for neurology, which in this field of medicine is mainly associated with the so-called mirror neurons. Mirror neurons are neurons in the primate brain that show a pattern of activity when observing a process taking place externally, as if the observer were performing the activities himself. The observed action must already be in the learned repertoire of the observing individual before the observation, so that its mirror neurons can show the same patterns when observing as when actually performing the action. Furthermore, imitation plays a medical role in connection with the imitative reflex. This is a physiological form of affective resonance, such as is present with yawning along with the sight of a person yawning. Affective resonance is a sympathy of moods and emotional states of other persons.

Function and task

In the context of macaque mirror neurons and related learning processes, imitation plays an essential role. Mirror neurons were first described by Rizzolatti. Neurons in field F5c of a macaque cerebrum responded in the same way during target-motor hand-object interactions as when these processes were observed in other creatures. Since 2002, there has been speculation about the existence of a mirror neuron system in the human Brodmann area 44. In this part of the brain actions are recognized. Imitation is also associated with this area. In 2010, direct evidence of human mirror neurons followed. Individual human neurons can only be examined in exceptional cases, for example in the context of brain surgery for untreatable epilepsy. In 2010, depth electrodes implanted in the brains of epileptic patients detected a small number of mirror neurons in the patients’ brains. In addition, the electrodes documented anti-mirror neurons that behaved in opposite directions when observing processes and performing them themselves. So far, only motor mirror neurons have been found. Thus, a connection between empathy and mirror neuron system does not seem obvious. Nevertheless, mirror neurons probably play a role in motor learning processes. The cognitivist learning theory of model learning assumes several prerequisites for learning by observation. For example, attentional processes are mentioned as involved processes as a prerequisite for observation. Memory processes bring what is observed into a memory trace that can be recalled later. In addition, motor reproduction processes and motivation as well as reinforcement processes are named as prerequisites for model learning by means of imitation. According to the theory, a behavior is imitated only if the model person is successful. In addition, a positive emotional relationship to the observed and a certain identification with the model person are considered prerequisites for learning from the model, which takes place by means of imitation. All in all, therefore, far more neurons are involved in model learning and the imitation associated with it than just the mirror neurons. Brain centers for memory processes and emotional centers such as the limbic system are probably just as relevant for imitation as the mirror system.

Diseases and ailments

A number of diseases are associated with imitative processes. These include, for example, St Vitus’ dance (Huntington’s chorea) and hysteria, which are also referred to as imitative disorders. Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by dramatic-theatrical and extrovert manipulative behavior. Patients are constantly seeking attention and suffer from an exaggerated ego-centeredness that may be accompanied by seductive or sexually provocative behavior. Changeable exuberant emotions and affect lability are characteristic, as well as emotive language, a weakness in communication, or fear of commitment. Most patients of hysteria suffer from an inability to have longer-lasting and deeper relationships. Hypochondriacal disorder corresponds to a purely psychological disorder in which patients suffer from a strong fear of being affected by serious illness. This fear becomes a belief, but it cannot be objectified diagnostically. Hypochondriasis is a so-called somatoform disorder. A special form of the disorder is cyberchondriasis, in which information from the Internet convinces the patient of a serious illness. Therefore, do not always immediately assume the worst possible manifestation. Hypochondria can go so far that patients involuntarily imitate the symptoms described and thus actually suffer from the individual complaints they describe to the doctor. Thus, the condition makes patients feel more and more like they are actually ill, because there can be an interaction between imitated symptoms and the feeling of illness.