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REINFORCEMENT OF VOCALIZATIONS THROUGH CONTINGENT VOCAL IMITATION
Author(s) -
Pelaez Martha,
ViruesOrtega Javier,
Gewirtz Jacob L.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.2011.44-33
Subject(s) - imitation , reinforcement , psychology , differential reinforcement , developmental psychology , audiology , vocal communication , differential effects , communication , neuroscience , social psychology , medicine
Maternal vocal imitation of infant vocalizations is highly prevalent during face‐to‐face interactions of infants and their caregivers. Although maternal vocal imitation has been associated with later verbal development, its potentially reinforcing effect on infant vocalizations has not been explored experimentally. This study examined the reinforcing effect of maternal vocal imitation of infant vocalizations using a reversal probe BAB design. Eleven 3‐ to 8‐month‐old infants at high risk for developmental delays experienced contingent maternal vocal imitation during reinforcement conditions. Differential reinforcement of other behavior served as the control condition. The behavior of 10 infants showed evidence of a reinforcement effect. Results indicated that vocal imitations can serve to reinforce early infant vocalizations.