The collective mind: An experimental analysis of imitation and self-organization in humans

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dc.contributor.authorOlarewaju, Emmanuel
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteePorter, Michelle (Kinesiology and Recreational Management) Gillis, Darren (Biological Sciences)en_US
dc.contributor.supervisorLeboe-McGowan, Jason (Psychology) Hare, James (Biological Sciences)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-13T16:01:01Z
dc.date.available2021-04-13T16:01:01Z
dc.date.copyright2021-03-28
dc.date.issued2021en_US
dc.date.submitted2021-03-28T14:30:02Zen_US
dc.degree.disciplineBiological Sciencesen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science (M.Sc.)en_US
dc.description.abstractI present an experimental paradigm to explore the interpersonal dynamics generating a collective mind. I hypothesized that collective organization among humans is based on dual interpersonal modes: (1) symmetrical and (2) anti-symmetrical. I specified these modes by detecting spatiotemporal patterns that embed cooperative agents in a three-dimensional (invariant) matrix. Within this spatiotemporal matrix, I found that the symmetrical mode is executed automatically and without guidance. Conversely, the anti-symmetrical mode required explicit direction and recruited attention for execution. I demonstrate that interpersonal symmetry stabilized group dynamics, enabled fast and efficient imitation that optimized information transmission, whereas anti-symmetrical imitation was comparatively slow, inefficient, and unstable. I determined that the anti-symmetrical mode spontaneously transitioned to the symmetrical mode under perturbations. Crucially, this renormalizing behaviour never transitioned from symmetrical to anti-symmetrical. This self-organizing group mechanism speaks to symmetry-breaking in cooperation dynamics. In the present work, spontaneous group choice mandated that agents align action-perception cycles in symmetrical space under internal or external perturbations. I provide examples to illustrate that this group behaviour manifests in invertebrates and vertebrates alike. I conclude by suggesting that inter-agent symmetry provides the social stability in which attention-driven interactions enable intrapersonal and interpersonal change. Future researchers may employ the methods I provide here to explore the emergent brain activity that gives rise to interpersonal symmetry-breaking and renormalization. Research in this area may offer insight into the patterns of neural activity (i.e., intrapersonal dynamics) that predict interpersonal symmetry-breaking, thus enabling the analysis of the neurological mechanisms underlying collective organization and social cognition.en_US
dc.description.noteMay 2021en_US
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dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/35427
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectSocial cognition, Cooperative dynamics, Self-organization, Imitation, Interpersonal symmetry, Group renormalizationen_US
dc.titleThe collective mind: An experimental analysis of imitation and self-organization in humansen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
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