{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T09:56:07Z","timestamp":1791971767499,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":70,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791936000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791936000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Commun Psychol"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Individuals tend to automatically imitate others\u2019 actions. Such imitative behavior is often assumed to be a universal phenomenon. However, most prior research has focused on Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations, leaving open whether people across different cultures imitate others in a similar manner. Ideomotor theory and the theory of objective self-awareness suggest that imitation is influenced by the extent to which individuals focus on the self versus others. Since cultural background strongly shapes self-construal\u2014particularly along the collectivism-individualism dimension\u2014cultural context may play a key role in shaping imitative behavior. To test this prediction, we examined automatic imitation in representative samples across 22 culturally diverse nations varying in collectivism and individualism. Consistent with prior findings, we replicated the basic automatic imitation effect across all countries but found no compelling evidence for cultural differences in automatic imitation. These findings hint to the possibility that automatic imitation is a universal phenomenon with little room for strong modulations by culture.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s44271-026-00517-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T01:04:54Z","timestamp":1791939894000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Little evidence for cultural differences in automatic imitation"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6322-4392","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Oliver","family":"Genschow","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mareike","family":"Westfal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5645-949X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Angela R.","family":"Dorrough","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emiel","family":"Cracco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1559-859X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tobias","family":"Wingen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9403-6084","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jan","family":"Crusius","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"517_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"463","DOI":"10.1037\/a0022288","volume":"137","author":"C Heyes","year":"2011","unstructured":"Heyes, C. Automatic imitation. Psychol. Bull. 137, 463\u2013483 (2011).","journal-title":"Psychol. Bull."},{"key":"517_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Genschow, O. & Cracco, E. Automatic Imitation (Springer Nature, 2025).","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-62634-0"},{"key":"517_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cobeha.2015.03.002","volume":"3","author":"KA Duffy","year":"2015","unstructured":"Duffy, K. A. & Chartrand, T. L. Mimicry: causes and consequences. Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci. 3, 112\u2013116 (2015).","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"517_CR4","first-page":"1","volume":"6","author":"Y Wang","year":"2012","unstructured":"Wang, Y. & Hamilton, A. F.dC. Social top-down response modulation (STORM): a model of the control of mimicry in social interaction. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 6, 1\u201310 (2012).","journal-title":"Front. Hum. Neurosci."},{"key":"517_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"893","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.76.6.893","volume":"76","author":"TL Chartrand","year":"1999","unstructured":"Chartrand, T. L. & Bargh, J. A. The chameleon effect: the perception-behavior link and social interaction. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 76, 893\u2013910 (1999).","journal-title":"J. Pers. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1007\/s10919-022-00399-1","volume":"46","author":"W Kulesza","year":"2022","unstructured":"Kulesza, W. et al. Imagining is not observing: the role of simulation processes within the mimicry-liking expressway. J. Nonverbal Behav. 46, 233\u2013246 (2022).","journal-title":"J. Nonverbal Behav."},{"key":"517_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bandc.2012.08.004","volume":"80","author":"P Sparenberg","year":"2012","unstructured":"Sparenberg, P., Topolinski, S., Springer, A. & Prinz, W. Minimal mimicry: mere effector matching induces preference. Brain Cognit. 80, 291\u2013300 (2012).","journal-title":"Brain Cognit."},{"key":"517_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1017\/S0140525X0999152X","volume":"33","author":"J Henrich","year":"2010","unstructured":"Henrich, J., Heine, S. J. & Norenzayan, A. The weirdest people in the world?Behav. Brain Sci. 33, 61\u201383 (2010).","journal-title":"Behav. Brain Sci."},{"key":"517_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/S0001-6918(00)00024-X","volume":"106","author":"M Brass","year":"2001","unstructured":"Brass, M., Bekkering, H. & Prinz, W. Movement observation affects movement execution in a simple response task. Acta Psychol. 106, 3\u201322 (2001).","journal-title":"Acta Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1006\/brcg.2000.1225","volume":"44","author":"M Brass","year":"2000","unstructured":"Brass, M., Bekkering, H., Wohlschl\u00e4ger, A. & Prinz, W. Compatibility between observed and executed finger movements: comparing symbolic, spatial, and imitative cues. Brain Cognit. 44, 124\u2013143 (2000).","journal-title":"Brain Cognit."},{"key":"517_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"453","DOI":"10.1037\/bul0000143","volume":"144","author":"E Cracco","year":"2018","unstructured":"Cracco, E. et al. Automatic imitation: a meta-analysis. Psychol. Bull. 144, 453\u2013500 (2018).","journal-title":"Psychol. Bull."},{"key":"517_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0183784","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0183784","volume":"12","author":"O Genschow","year":"2017","unstructured":"Genschow, O. et al. Mimicry and automatic imitation are not correlated. PloS ONE 12, e0183784 (2017).","journal-title":"PloS ONE"},{"key":"517_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1016\/j.concog.2019.01.001","volume":"68","author":"E Cracco","year":"2019","unstructured":"Cracco, E. & Brass, M. Reaction time indices of automatic imitation measure imitative response tendencies. Conscious. Cognit. 68, 115\u2013118 (2019).","journal-title":"Conscious. Cognit."},{"key":"517_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-295X.97.2.253","volume":"97","author":"S Kornblum","year":"1990","unstructured":"Kornblum, S., Hasbroucq, T. & Osman, A. Dimensional overlap: cognitive basis for stimulus-response compatibility-a model and taxonomy. Psychol. Rev. 97, 253\u2013270 (1990).","journal-title":"Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"517_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1037\/h0028689","volume":"77","author":"AG Greenwald","year":"1970","unstructured":"Greenwald, A. G. Sensory feedback mechanisms in performance control: with special reference to the ideo-motor mechanism. Psychol. Rev. 77, 73\u201399 (1970).","journal-title":"Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"517_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Prinz, W. in Relationships Between Perception and Action (eds O. Neumann & W. Prinz) 167\u2013201 (Springer-Verlag, 1990).","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-75348-0_7"},{"key":"517_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1080\/713752551","volume":"9","author":"W Prinz","year":"1997","unstructured":"Prinz, W. Perception and action planning. Eur. J. Cogn. Psychol. 9, 129\u2013154 (1997).","journal-title":"Eur. J. Cogn. Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2004.06.018","volume":"43","author":"M Brass","year":"2005","unstructured":"Brass, M., Derrfuss, J. & Von Cramon, D. Y. The inhibition of imitative and overlearned responses: a functional double dissociation. Neuropsychologia 43, 89\u201398 (2005).","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"517_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Prinz, W., De Maeght, S. & Knuf, L. in Attention in Action: Advances from Cognitive Neuroscience (eds G. W. Humphreys & M. J. Riddoch) 93-107 (Psychology Press, 2005).","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203449226_chapter_4"},{"key":"517_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"492","DOI":"10.1016\/S0028-3932(01)00134-8","volume":"40","author":"L Craighero","year":"2002","unstructured":"Craighero, L., Bello, A., Fadiga, L. & Rizzolatti, G. Hand action preparation influences the responses to hand pictures. Neuropsychologia 40, 492\u2013502 (2002).","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"517_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"522","DOI":"10.1016\/S0960-9822(03)00165-9","volume":"13","author":"J Kilner","year":"2003","unstructured":"Kilner, J., Paulignan, Y. & Blakemore, S. An interference effect of observed biological movement on action. Curr. Biol. 13, 522\u2013525 (2003).","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"517_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1239","DOI":"10.1093\/cercor\/bhn181","volume":"19","author":"V Gazzola","year":"2009","unstructured":"Gazzola, V. & Keysers, C. The observation and execution of actions share motor and somatosensory voxels in all tested subjects: single-subject analyses of unsmoothed fMRI data. Cereb. Cortex 19, 1239\u20131255 (2009).","journal-title":"Cereb. Cortex"},{"key":"517_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2010.03.013","volume":"20","author":"C Keysers","year":"2010","unstructured":"Keysers, C. & Gazzola, V. Social neuroscience: mirror neurons recorded in humans. Curr. Biol. 20, 353\u2013354 (2010).","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"517_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1527","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2007.08.006","volume":"17","author":"C Catmur","year":"2007","unstructured":"Catmur, C., Walsh, V. & Heyes, C. Sensorimotor learning configures the human mirror system. Curr. Biol. 17, 1527\u20131531 (2007).","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"517_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2608","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.1995.73.6.2608","volume":"73","author":"L Fadiga","year":"1995","unstructured":"Fadiga, L., Fogassi, L., Pavesi, G. & Rizzolatti, G. Motor facilitation during action observation: a magnetic stimulation study. J. Neurophysiol. 73, 2608\u20132611 (1995).","journal-title":"J. Neurophysiol."},{"key":"517_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00230027","volume":"91","author":"G Di Pellegrino","year":"1992","unstructured":"Di Pellegrino, G., Fadiga, L., Fogassi, L., Gallese, V. & Rizzolatti, G. Understanding motor events: a neurophysiological study. Exp. Brain Res. 91, 176\u2013180 (1992).","journal-title":"Exp. Brain Res."},{"key":"517_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"750","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2010.02.045","volume":"20","author":"R Mukamel","year":"2010","unstructured":"Mukamel, R., Ekstrom, A. D., Kaplan, J., Iacoboni, M. & Fried, I. Single-neuron responses in humans during execution and observation of actions. Curr. Biol. 20, 750\u2013756 (2010).","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"517_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20150083","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2015.0083","volume":"371","author":"C Lamm","year":"2016","unstructured":"Lamm, C., Bukowski, H. & Silani, G. From shared to distinct self\u2013other representations in empathy: evidence from neurotypical function and socio-cognitive disorders. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B 371, 20150083 (2016).","journal-title":"Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B"},{"key":"517_CR29","unstructured":"Duval, S. & Wicklund, R. A. A Theory of Objective Self Awareness (Academic Press, 1972)."},{"key":"517_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/S0065-2601(01)80003-4","volume":"33","author":"A Dijksterhuis","year":"2001","unstructured":"Dijksterhuis, A. & Bargh, J. A. The perception-behavior expressway: automatic effects of social perception on social behavior. Adv. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 33, 1\u201340 (2001).","journal-title":"Adv. Exp. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cracco, E., Clauwaert, A., Van den Broeck, Y., Van Damme, S. & Brass, M. Motor simulation is disturbed when experiencing pain. Pain 160, 2743\u20132750 (2019).","DOI":"10.1097\/j.pain.0000000000001665"},{"key":"517_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"423","DOI":"10.1027\/1618-3169\/a000466","volume":"66","author":"O Genschow","year":"2019","unstructured":"Genschow, O., Schuler, J., Cracco, E., Brass, M. & W\u00e4nke, M. The effect of money priming on self-focus in the imitation-inhibition task: a registered report. Exp. Psychol. 66, 423\u2013436 (2019).","journal-title":"Exp. Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1080\/17588928.2010.533164","volume":"2","author":"J Hogeveen","year":"2011","unstructured":"Hogeveen, J. & Obhi, S. S. Altogether now: activating interdependent self-construal induces hypermotor resonance. Cogn. Neurosci. 2, 74\u201382 (2011).","journal-title":"Cogn. Neurosci."},{"key":"517_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"905","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jesp.2010.07.001","volume":"46","author":"J Leighton","year":"2010","unstructured":"Leighton, J., Bird, G., Orsini, C. & Heyes, C. Social attitudes modulate automatic imitation. J. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 46, 905\u2013910 (2010).","journal-title":"J. Exp. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e60249","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0060249","volume":"8","author":"Y Wang","year":"2013","unstructured":"Wang, Y. & Hamilton, A. Understanding the role of the \u2018self\u2019in the social priming of mimicry. PloS ONE 8, e60249 (2013).","journal-title":"PloS ONE"},{"key":"517_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Genschow, O. & Cracco, E. in Automatic Imitation 219\u2013239 (Springer Nature, 2025).","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-62634-0_11"},{"key":"517_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hofstede, G. Dimensionalizing cultures: the Hofstede model in context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture 2 (2011).","DOI":"10.9707\/2307-0919.1014"},{"key":"517_CR38","unstructured":"Triandis, H. C. Individualism and Collectivism (Westview Press, 1995)."},{"key":"517_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"224","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-295X.98.2.224","volume":"98","author":"HR Markus","year":"1991","unstructured":"Markus, H. R. & Kitayama, S. Culture and the self: implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychol. Rev. 98, 224 (1991).","journal-title":"Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"517_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.1177\/1745691610375557","volume":"5","author":"HR Markus","year":"2010","unstructured":"Markus, H. R. & Kitayama, S. Cultures and selves: a cycle of mutual constitution. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 5, 420\u2013430 (2010).","journal-title":"Perspect. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"517_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1080\/17470910802674825","volume":"4","author":"J Sui","year":"2009","unstructured":"Sui, J., Liu, C. H. & Han, S. Cultural difference in neural mechanisms of self-recognition. Soc. Neurosci. 4, 402\u2013411 (2009).","journal-title":"Soc. Neurosci."},{"key":"517_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/0147-1767(91)90074-Q","volume":"15","author":"P Trubisky","year":"1991","unstructured":"Trubisky, P., Ting-Toomey, S. & Lin, S.-L. The influence of individualism-collectivism and self-monitoring on conflict styles. Int. J. Intercult. Relat. 15, 65\u201384 (1991).","journal-title":"Int. J. Intercult. Relat."},{"key":"517_CR43","unstructured":"Hofstede, G. Culture\u2019s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions and organizations across nations (Sage, 2001)."},{"key":"517_CR44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0120180","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0120180","volume":"10","author":"RE Berl","year":"2015","unstructured":"Berl, R. E. & Hewlett, B. S. Cultural variation in the use of overimitation by the Aka and Ngandu of the Congo Basin. PloS one 10, e0120180 (2015).","journal-title":"PloS one"},{"key":"517_CR45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1111\/jpr.12528","volume":"66","author":"YC Chuang","year":"2024","unstructured":"Chuang, Y. C. & Fujiwara, K. Facial mimicry in unstructured dyadic interactions: A cross-cultural study. Jpn. Psychol. Res. 66, 493\u2013509 (2024).","journal-title":"Jpn. Psychol. Res."},{"key":"517_CR46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1435","DOI":"10.1037\/dev0000131","volume":"52","author":"JM Clegg","year":"2016","unstructured":"Clegg, J. M. & Legare, C. H. A cross-cultural comparison of children\u2019s imitative flexibility. Dev. Psychol. 52, 1435 (2016).","journal-title":"Dev. Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jecp.2017.03.002","volume":"161","author":"KH Corriveau","year":"2017","unstructured":"Corriveau, K. H. et al. Cultural differences in the imitation and transmission of inefficient actions. J. Exp. Child Psychol. 161, 1\u201318 (2017).","journal-title":"J. Exp. Child Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jecp.2015.04.004","volume":"137","author":"CJ DiYanni","year":"2015","unstructured":"DiYanni, C. J., Corriveau, K. H., Kurkul, K., Nasrini, J. & Nini, D. The role of consensus and culture in children\u2019s imitation of inefficient actions. J. Exp. Child Psychol. 137, 99\u2013110 (2015).","journal-title":"J. Exp. Child Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1093","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.84.5.1093","volume":"84","author":"RB van Baaren","year":"2003","unstructured":"van Baaren, R. B., Maddux, W. W., Chartrand, T. L., De Bouter, C. & van Knippenberg, A. It takes two to mimic: behavioral consequences of self-construals. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 84, 1093\u20131102 (2003).","journal-title":"J. Pers. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR50","first-page":"100971","volume":"28","author":"M Minkov","year":"2022","unstructured":"Minkov, M. & Kaasa, A. Do dimensions of culture exist objectively? A validation of the revised Minkov-Hofstede model of culture with World Values Survey items and scores for 102 countries. J. Int. Manag. 28, 100971 (2022).","journal-title":"J. Int. Manag."},{"key":"517_CR51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1177\/1745691620984483","volume":"17","author":"FM G\u00f6tz","year":"2022","unstructured":"G\u00f6tz, F. M., Gosling, S. D. & Rentfrow, P. J. Small effects: the indispensable foundation for a cumulative psychological science. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 17, 205\u2013215 (2022).","journal-title":"Perspect. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"517_CR52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"485","DOI":"10.1002\/ejsp.2752","volume":"51","author":"A Lovakov","year":"2021","unstructured":"Lovakov, A. & Agadullina, E. R. Empirically derived guidelines for effect size interpretation in social psychology. Eur. J. Soc. Psychol. 51, 485\u2013504 (2021).","journal-title":"Eur. J. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.3758\/BF03193146","volume":"39","author":"F Faul","year":"2007","unstructured":"Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A.-G. & Buchner, A. G. Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav. Res. Methods 39, 175\u2013191 (2007).","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Methods"},{"key":"517_CR54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"780","DOI":"10.1007\/s00426-021-01526-1","volume":"86","author":"O Genschow","year":"2022","unstructured":"Genschow, O., Westfal, M., Cracco, E. & Crusius, J. Group membership does not modulate automatic imitation. Psychol. Res. 86, 780\u2013791 (2022).","journal-title":"Psychol. Res."},{"key":"517_CR55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103374","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actpsy.2021.103374","volume":"219","author":"M Westfal","year":"2021","unstructured":"Westfal, M., Crusius, J. & Genschow, O. Imitation and interindividual differences: belief in free will is not related to automatic imitation. Acta Psychol. 219, 103374 (2021).","journal-title":"Acta Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.3758\/s13428-024-02557-3","volume":"57","author":"M Westfal","year":"2025","unstructured":"Westfal, M., Cracco, E., Crusius, J. & Genschow, O. Validation of an online imitation-inhibition task. Behav. Res. Methods 57, 80 (2025).","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Methods"},{"key":"517_CR57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3758\/s13428-014-0458-y","volume":"47","author":"JR De Leeuw","year":"2015","unstructured":"De Leeuw, J. R. jsPsych: a JavaScript library for creating behavioral experiments in a Web browser. Behav. Res. methods 47, 1\u201312 (2015).","journal-title":"Behav. Res. methods"},{"key":"517_CR58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1045","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-011-1341-7","volume":"42","author":"JL Cook","year":"2012","unstructured":"Cook, J. L. & Bird, G. Atypical social modulation of imitation in autism spectrum conditions. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 42, 1045\u20131051 (2012).","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"517_CR59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"613","DOI":"10.1007\/s00221-012-3339-6","volume":"224","author":"J Hogeveen","year":"2013","unstructured":"Hogeveen, J. & Obhi, S. S. Automatic imitation is automatic, but less so for narcissists. Exp. Brain Res. 224, 613\u2013621 (2013).","journal-title":"Exp. Brain Res."},{"key":"517_CR60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1301","DOI":"10.3758\/BF03194773","volume":"64","author":"YS Cho","year":"2002","unstructured":"Cho, Y. S. & Proctor, R. W. Influences of hand posture and hand position on compatibility effects for up-down stimuli mapped to left-right responses: Evidence for a hand referent hypothesis. Percept. Psychophys. 64, 1301\u20131315 (2002).","journal-title":"Percept. Psychophys."},{"key":"517_CR61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"839","DOI":"10.1080\/02724980443000359","volume":"58","author":"YS Cho","year":"2005","unstructured":"Cho, Y. S. & Proctor, R. W. Representing response position relative to display location: Influence on orthogonal stimulus\u2013response compatibility.  Q. J. Exp. Psychol. Sect. A 58, 839\u2013864 (2005).","journal-title":"Q. J. Exp. Psychol. Sect. A"},{"key":"517_CR62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actpsy.2012.07.007","volume":"141","author":"L Jim\u00e9nez","year":"2012","unstructured":"Jim\u00e9nez, L. et al. Automatic imitation and spatial compatibility in a key-pressing task. Acta Psychol. 141, 96\u2013103 (2012).","journal-title":"Acta Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1111\/2041-210X.12504","volume":"7","author":"P Green","year":"2016","unstructured":"Green, P. & MacLeod, C. J. SIMR: an R package for power analysis of generalized linear mixed models by simulation. Methods Ecol. Evol. 7, 493\u2013498 (2016).","journal-title":"Methods Ecol. Evol."},{"key":"517_CR64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1037\/a0019325","volume":"37","author":"C Catmur","year":"2011","unstructured":"Catmur, C. & Heyes, C. Time course analyses confirm independence of imitative and spatial compatibility. J. Exp. Psychol. Hum. Percept. Perform. 37, 409\u2013421 (2011).","journal-title":"J. Exp. Psychol. Hum. Percept. Perform."},{"key":"517_CR65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9868.2008.00678.x","volume":"71","author":"J Hu","year":"2009","unstructured":"Hu, J. & Johnson, V. E. Bayesian model selection using test statistics. J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B: Stat. Methodol. 71, 143\u2013158 (2009).","journal-title":"J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. B: Stat. Methodol"},{"key":"517_CR66","unstructured":"Morey, R. D., Rouder J. N., Jamil T. & Morey M. R. D. \u201cPackage \u2018Bayesfactor\u2019.\u201d https:\/\/cran.r-project.org\/web\/packages\/BayesFactor\/index.html (2015)."},{"key":"517_CR67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.3758\/PBR.16.2.225","volume":"16","author":"JN Rouder","year":"2009","unstructured":"Rouder, J. N., Speckman, P. L., Sun, D., Morey, R. D. & Iverson, G. Bayesian T tests for accepting and rejecting the null hypothesis. Psych. Bull. Rev. 16, 225\u2013237 (2009).","journal-title":"Psych. Bull. Rev."},{"key":"517_CR68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.1016\/0001-6918(75)90041-4","volume":"39","author":"A Hedge","year":"1975","unstructured":"Hedge, A. & Marsh, N. The effect of irrelevant spatial correspondences on two-choice response-time. Acta Psychol. 39, 427\u2013439 (1975).","journal-title":"Acta Psychol."},{"key":"517_CR69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oomen, D. & Genschow, O. Possibilities of imitation. Poss. Stud. Soc. 2, 345\u2013356 (2024).","DOI":"10.1177\/27538699241252883"},{"key":"517_CR70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"746","DOI":"10.1177\/1747021820986528","volume":"74","author":"L De Souter","year":"2021","unstructured":"De Souter, L., Braem, S., Genschow, O., Brass, M. & Cracco, E. Social group membership does not modulate automatic imitation in a contrastive multi-agent paradigm. Q. J. Exp. Psychol. 74, 746\u2013759 (2021).","journal-title":"Q. J. Exp. Psychol."}],"container-title":["Communications Psychology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s44271-026-00517-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s44271-026-00517-5","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s44271-026-00517-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T09:40:11Z","timestamp":1791970811000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s44271-026-00517-5"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]]},"references-count":70,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["517"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s44271-026-00517-5","relation":{},"ISSN":["2731-9121"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2731-9121","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]]},"assertion":[{"value":"9 October 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"23 July 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"14 October 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics"}}],"article-number":"139"}}