Generalized vocal imitation in infants.

Full Abstract

Effects of modeling and response-contingent social praise on the vocal imitation of three 9- to 13-month-old infants were analyzed. Three infants and parents participated in 2 to 4 experimental sessions a week for 2 to 4 months. During each 20-min-long session, the parent presented vocal models for the infant to imitate. During the model-alone condition, no social praise was programmed for infant imitation. During the model-and-praise condition, social praise was provided by the parent for infant imitation on training trials, but not probe trials. All three infants showed systematic increases in matching during training trials following the introduction of the model-and-praise condition. Although matching during probe trials was not directly reinforced, probe-trial responding increased systematically with training-trial responding. Furthermore, non-matching infant vocalizations did not increase systematically with the introduction of the model-and-praise procedure. Together these findings provide a demonstration of generalized vocal imitation in infants, a population in which it had not previously been shown to occur.

Author information

Author/s: Poulson, C L (CL); Kymissis, E (E); Reeve, K F (KF); Andreators, M (M); Reeve, L (L);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queens College/CUNY, Flushing 11367-0904.

Grants: HD 22070 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of experimental child psychology (J Exp Child Psychol), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1991-Apr; vol 51 (issue 2) : pp 267-79

Dates: Created 1991/06/25; Completed 1991/06/25; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 2033363, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.