Imitation and the Social Mind: Autism and Typical Development

From earliest infancy, a typically developing child imitates or mirrors the facial expressions, postures and gestures, and emotional behavior of others. Where does this capacity come from, and what function does it serve? What happens when imitation is impaired? Synthesizing cutting-edge research emerging from a range of disciplines, this important book examines the role of imitation in both autism and typical development. Topics include the neural and evolutionary bases of imitation, its pivotal connections to language development and relationships, and how early imitative deficits in autism might help explain the more overt social and communication problems of older children and adults.

Especially recommended for field scientists and professionals.

Edited by psychiatry experts Sally J. Rogers and Justin H.G. Williams, Imitation and the Social Mind: Autism and Typical Development is an anthology of essays by learned authors concerning the process of imitation as a building block of social development, and the interference that autism brings to the process of imitation. Essays ponder such topics as "Does Imitation Matter to Children with Autism?", "A Cognitive Neuroscience View of Imitation", "Longitudinal Research on Motor Imitation in Autism", and much more. A highly scholarly and technological collection of the latest up-to-date research, especially recommended for field scientists and professionals.