Monkeys are able to imitate from birth

A newborn macaque monkey imitating researcher le tongue

Mimicking the expressions on the faces of parents is a major factor in learning for a newborn who cannot yet see his or her image on a mirror. This mimic ability is associated with the will to learn that has been discovered in large monkeys like chimpanzees.

According to an Italian study published in the journal PloS Biology, macaque rhesus monkeys also have this ability.

The research group led by Dr. Pier Ferrari of Parme University tested 21 newborn macaque monkeys.

When facing a newborn animal, the researcher opened his mouth wide or made a noise from his lips. A 1-day-old monkey does not show signs of imitation. In contrast, since the third day after birth, the monkey began to imitate the faces of researchers.

This stage of the arrest stopped about 2 weeks later, which is earlier than the big monkey or man and may last longer when the monkey is with the same kind.

In the 1990s, researchers discovered the presence of mirror neurons (mirror neurons) in macaque monkeys, indicating they were able to deliberately imitate. These cells light up when the monkey performs an action, just as he sees another monkey or a human performing the same action.

VN