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The functional and developmental role of imitation in the (a)typical brain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2017

Luca Casartelli
Affiliation:
Scientific Institute IRCCS Medea, Child Psychopathology Unit, 23842 – Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy. luca.casartelli@emedea.ithttp://neurophilosophy.unimi.it/people.php
Valentina Parma
Affiliation:
International School for Advanced Studies – SISSA, Neuroscience Area, 34136 Trieste, Italy. vparma@sissa.ithttp://insula.sissa.it/people/valentina-parma Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Center for Autism Research, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Abstract

Keven & Akins (K&A) propose a biologically plausible view of neonatal imitation based on the analysis of sensorimotor development. Here, we consider imitation in the general context of motor cognition, taking examples from both typical and atypical development. Specifically, we will discuss the functional role of imitation, its multi-level nature, and its anomalous features in autism.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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