Intermodality and imitation : behavioral and neuronal aspects (studies in human newborns and birds) – INTERIMIT

The aim of this project is to study behaviorally and neurophysiologically, in human and animal, the processes involved in imitation behavior that is one essential step in language learning. This study will allow us to show: what are the preferred conditions for motor imitation, if interactions between vision and audition are necessary for this behavior and finally what is the social representation in imitation behavior. The neural bases of imitation will be studied in two songbirds' species (European starlings and canaries) that are both able to imitate songs. In this project, we will be able to characterize neurons involved in multimodal integration and sensorimotor neurons that are directly involved in imitation. These neurons that are activated during songs broadcast and are activated during vocalization posed the characteristics of mirror neurons. The existence of these mirror neurons has never been proved in animal excepted primates.