imitation

The imitation is imitation based on a model or role model, which is now valued as an important process for human learning. From a neurological point of view, mirror neurons are particularly relevant in connection with imitation. An example of an imitative disease is hypochondria, in which patients are convinced of a non-existent disease in themselves.

What is the imitation?

Imitation is imitation. Imitation is medically relevant, for example, for cognitivistic learning theory, which focuses on learning processes on the model. Such learning processes take place under the observation of human role models, who do not necessarily have to be personally present. Imitation learning is the third form of human learning. Model learning builds up new behaviors, modifies existing behaviors and creates discriminative cues that facilitate behavior that has already been learned.

Imitation is also a relevant term for neurology, which in this area of ​​medicine is mainly associated with so-called mirror neurons. Mirror neurons are nerve cells in the primate brain that, when observing an external process, show a pattern of activity as if the observer were performing the activity himself. The observed action must already be in the learned reportory of the observing individual before the observation, so that his mirror neurons can show the same patterns during observation as during the actual execution of the process.

Imitation also plays a medical role in connection with the imitative reflex. This is a physiological form of affective resonance, such as is the case with yawning at the sight of a yawning person. Affective resonance is a sympathy for the moods and feelings of other people.

Function & task

In connection with the mirror neurons of macaques and the associated learning processes, imitation plays an essential role. The mirror neurons were first described by Rizzolatti. The neurons in field F5c of a macaque cerebrum reacted to target motor hand-object interactions in the same way as to observing these processes in other living beings. 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 connected to the area. In 2010 the direct detection of human mirror neurons followed.

Individual human neurons can only be examined in exceptional cases, for example in the context of operations on the brain in cases of untreatable epilepsy. The depth electrodes implanted in the brain of epileptics discovered a small number of mirror neurons in the brain of the patient in 2010. In addition, the electrodes documented anti-mirror neurons that behaved in opposite directions when observing processes and their own execution. So far, only motor mirror neurons have been found. A connection between empathy and the mirror neuron system does not seem to be obvious. Nevertheless, mirror neurons play a role in motor learning processes.

The cognitivistic learning theory of model learning is based on several prerequisites for learning through observation. Attention processes as a prerequisite for observation are named as participating processes. Memory processes bring what has been observed into a memory track that can be recalled later. In addition, motor reproduction processes and motivation and reinforcement processes are mentioned as a prerequisite for model learning by means of imitation.

According to the theory, behavior is only imitated if the model person is successful with it. In addition, a positive emotional relationship to the observed and a certain identification with the model person are considered prerequisites for learning on the model, which takes place through imitation. Overall, far more neurons are involved in model learning and the associated imitation 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.

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Illnesses & ailments

A number of diseases are associated with imitative processes. These include, for example, St. Vitus's dance (Huntington's disease) and hysteria, which are also referred to as imitative diseases. The histrionic personality disorder is characterized by dramatic-theatrical and extroverted manipulative behavior. Patients are constantly looking for attention and suffer from an exaggerated self-centeredness, which can be accompanied by seductive or sexually provocative behavior. Fluctuating exuberant emotions and an affect lability are just as characteristic as emotional language, poor communication or fears of attachment. Most hysteria sufferers suffer from an inability to have longer lasting and deeper relationships.

The hypochondriac disorder corresponds to a purely psychological disorder, in which the patients suffer from a strong fear of being affected by serious illnesses. This fear becomes a belief that cannot be objectively diagnosed. Hypochondria is a so-called somatoform disorder. Cyberchondria is a special form of the disease, in which information from the Internet convince the patient of a serious illness. So do not always assume the worst possible expression.

Hypochondria can go so far that the patient involuntarily imitates the symptoms described and thus actually suffers from the individual complaints that they describe to the doctor. The disease thus increasingly gives the patient the feeling that they are actually sick, because there can be an interaction between the imitated symptoms and the feeling of the disease.