New evidence on imitation in an enculturated chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

Abstract

Imitation in the great apes continues to be an active field of research and one that is not free of controversy. Several studies suggest that these species do not tend to match the motor movements of the model they observe, but try to achieve the same results using their own methods (emulation of results). In the studies reviewed, gestures have been used very infrequently outside an intraspecific communicative context to evaluate imitation. In fact, the imitation of gestural actions has been tested only in 4 individual great apes. This study assessed a chimpanzee's (Pan troglodytes) ability to imitate 52 actions in 4 categories. The levels of accuracy attained by the subject in her imitations exceeded those described in previous studies. Moreover, contrary to the idea defended in some articles, the subject seemed to find it easier to imitate gestures than actions with objects.