The neural origins and implications of imitation, mirror neurons and tool use

Several recent studies report how laboratory-raised, non-human primates exposed to tool use can exhibit intelligent behaviors, such as imitation and reference vocal control, that are never seen in their wild counterparts. Tool-use training appears to forge a novel cortico–cortical connection that underlies this boost in capacity, which normally exists only as latent potential in lower primates. Although tool-use training is patently non-naturalistic, its marked effects on brain organization and behavior could shed light on the evolution of higher intelligence in humans.