Heather Kosakowski participated in the 2014 CBMM Summer Research program, working with Lindsey Powell in the Laboratory for Developmental Studies directed by Prof. Elizabeth Spelke at Harvard. Her research explored the basis for the prosocial nature of imitation by exploring whether young infants show a preference for third-party imitators. Using observations of infants’ looking behavior when presented with visual displays of simple cartoon characters engaged in imitative actions, Heather examined whether third-party imitation preferences exist in preverbal 4-month and 7-month old infants, and tested hypotheses about the possible basis for the prosocial nature of imitation. Heather is continuing her research in the Spelke Lab this year.

Learn more about Heather’s research (PDF).