Abstract
This chapter will begin with a focus on a particular subtopic within the
shared representations research domain: imitation. Imitation occurs when
the perception of another’s actions causes the activation of the corresponding
motor representation in the observer. Thus imitation relates to shared
representations in that it concerns the activation of a self- related representation
by an other- related representation. In this chapter, I will use examples
from the autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) literature to argue that if either the self- or other- related representation is atypical this can result in atypical imitation. In other words, if action observation or action execution mechanisms are atypical, then imitation will be affected. I will conclude this chapter by drawing on research that extends this logic to other sociocognitive domains such as empathy and to conditions such as schizophrenia and alexithymia.
shared representations research domain: imitation. Imitation occurs when
the perception of another’s actions causes the activation of the corresponding
motor representation in the observer. Thus imitation relates to shared
representations in that it concerns the activation of a self- related representation
by an other- related representation. In this chapter, I will use examples
from the autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) literature to argue that if either the self- or other- related representation is atypical this can result in atypical imitation. In other words, if action observation or action execution mechanisms are atypical, then imitation will be affected. I will conclude this chapter by drawing on research that extends this logic to other sociocognitive domains such as empathy and to conditions such as schizophrenia and alexithymia.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Shared representations: |
| Subtitle of host publication | sensorimotor foundations of social life |
| Editors | Sukhvinder S. Obhi, Emily S. Cross |
| Place of Publication | Cambridge |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Pages | 460-479 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-1-107-27935-3 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-107-05020-4, 978-1-107-69031-8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Publication series
| Name | Cambridge Social Neuroscience |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |