Role of Motor Imitation in Traversability of Surfaces by Walking Infants

The ecological approach by Gibson stressed the role of visual cues in toddlers' locomoror activities. In particular, a rigid surface offers more traversability “affordances” to walkers (13–16 mo. old) than a deformable surface. On the other hand, imitation plays a relevant role in human behaviors. In our study a group of 17 walking infants (12–19 mo.) were asked to choose between locomoting on a rigid versus a deformable surface after having seen an older child walking on the deformable surface. A control group of 19 infants were asked to do the same task without having seen a mode). The task was repeated three times. No relevant differences appeared between the two groups as to the choice of surfaces; the rigid surface was preferred by both groups. Some slight differences in the behavior of the experimental group were seen as a result of observing the model. Clearly, however, social stimulus, such as the sight of an older child performing a specific task, does not overcome the affordances which induce infants not to walk on the deformable surface.