The mechanisms of observational learning

One of the most useful skills of humans is the ability to learn by observing others. Instead of engaging in a laborious and potentially dangerous search by trials and errors for the optimal strategy to solve a problem or accomplish a task, people can observe others who excel at this task and imitate their behavior. In the 1960s and 1970s, the investigation of observational learning led Albert Bandura to develop one of the most influential theories in psychology: Social Learning Theory. At that time, the mechanisms invoked by Bandura to account for observational learning were basic cognitive processes such as attention, memory, production, and motivation. In the present research proposal, we intend to test the hypothesis that a more specific mechanism makes this method so powerful: peoples propensity to spontaneously simulate what others perceive, think and feel and make this experience their own. The notion that people learn from others by simulating their mental states is supported by the finding that humans tend to unconsciously mimic the facial expressions, postures, or phrases of speech of those they observe. At the brain level, this simulation process seems to rely on mirror neurons. This specific class of neurons fires during both the observation and the execution of the same motor act. Neuroimaging studies have found mirror brain activations for motor actions, facial expressions, pain, and reward perception in humans. We argue that this ability to simulate other peoples mental processes makes observation a powerful learning method. When observing others who inspire them, people vicariously are these persons; they vicariously feel, think, and see the world as the persons they observe do. From there on, it is just a small step to act alike. However, the causal relation between simulation mechanisms and behavioral change has not been scientifically established so far. Our research project intends to fill this gap using an interdisciplinary approach. First, in a series of behavioral studies, we will test the hypothesis that when participants learn from inspiring models (compared to uninspiring ones), they unconsciously mimic the models facial expressions and that this mimicry facilitates observational learning. Moreover, in an fMRI study, we will test the hypothesis that when people learn from inspiring models, their brain activity mirrors the models brain activity and that this brain coupling facilitates behavioral change. Shedding light on the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in observational learning will enable psychologists to understand and use better one of the most efficient learning methods. 1