The role of movement in eliciting early imitations

The role of movement in triggering early imitative responses is examined in this study. The sample consisted of 36 newborns (median age = 4 days). 16 were presented with 2 dynamic models (tongue protrusion and hand opening-closing), 12 were presented with the static form of these same models, and the remaining 8 constituted a control group. Only infants in the first condition fixated the experimenter longer than those in the dynamic one. The results are discussed in terms of neurophysiological findings concerning the control of neonatal behaviors and early perceptual capacities.