Alexis Courtial
Papers
1
Total Citations
27
H-Index
1
About
Alexis Courtial is a developmental psychologist whose research explores the origins of social cognition in human newborns. Her most-cited work investigates the capacity for imitation—a cornerstone of early social learning—by testing whether newborns can match tongue protrusion gestures presented on two-dimensional screens. In a landmark 2010 study (27 citations), she and her colleagues provided the first evidence that newborns as young as a few days old can imitate not only a human face but also a disembodied robotic mouth, challenging assumptions about the specificity of early imitation and highlighting the role of abstract perceptual-motor mapping. This work bridges developmental psychology and robotics, offering insights into how infants perceive and respond to both biological and artificial agents. Courtial’s contributions have advanced understanding of the innate foundations of social interaction, with implications for early diagnosis of developmental disorders. Her research continues to shape debates on the mechanisms underlying neonatal imitation, earning recognition for its innovative experimental design and theoretical impact.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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