The Relationship between Imitation at 12 months and Language and Self-Regulation at 42 months (2016)

Undergraduate: Laura Strenk

Faculty Advisor: J. Steven Reznick
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Theory of Mind (ToM) is a multidimensional construct associated with many other domains, such as imitation, self-regulation, and language. Early imitation is believed to be one of the earliest indicators of ToM. Language and self-regulation skills are concurrently associated with ToM because effective communication requires ToM and the ability to regulate oneself is tied to mental state concepts. Previous research has found connections between early imitation and language, but researchers have not explicitly explored the connection between imitation and self-regulation. In this longitudinal study, 12-month old imitation scores were obtained from the First Year Inventory, a parent-report survey (Baranek, Watson, Crais, & Reznick, 2003). Behavioral data was collected from a sample of 42-month old children who visited the lab. These children participated in ten different tasks, including four tasks designed to measure receptive language, expressive language, and delay inhibitory control (which is an indicator of self-regulation). It is hypothesized that imitation scores at 12 months will predict both performance on language measures and self-regulation at 42 months, such that better imitation scores will predict better expressive language, receptive language, and self-regulation scores. Results from this study will be able to inform future early intervention programs, particularly in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.