A hypothesis for understanding mind, body, language, and evolution:
5.5.2 Information processing for the task of imitating: converting the description to commands
The preceding diagram illustrates typical imitation. The setting is a physical fitness class where the members follow the instructor. The instructor is on the left, and the imitator is on the right.
The green and blue arrows show the stages in information processing that are
required to allow the imitator to copy the actions of the instructor.
The purple arrow on the top shows the process that is required to convert
the description in the 'inner language' to commands in the 'inner language'.
5. We hypothesize that the description of the body parts and their orientation in space is translated into language-based commands to move the imitators body parts into equivalent positions
We hypothesize that the description becomes a goal or objective for the individual
Instead of describing something that has been observed, it describes a future state.
We hypothesize that the component parts of the goal description are identified along with the future state to be attained.
If the future state of any given bone (limb) does not correspond to
the present state, then the difference can be interpreted as a command to
change the position of the bone to reduce the difference.
The difference between the present positions and future positions can be calculated as changes in joint rotation
The change in angle required have to be calculate from the centre out.
The change in angle required can be interpreted as specifying the changes in muscle tension required to make the rotation.