Why do the babies imitate him, though? It's common knowledge that babies imitate a lot of the things they see adults doing, but a study from the University of Washington has shown that imitation"is [a baby's] foremost tool for learning". “Babies are exquisitely careful people-watchers, and they’re primed to learn from others,” says Andrew Meltzoff, co-author and co-director of the UW Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, adding that "when babies watch someone else, it activates their own brains." Apparently, because of the way a baby's brain is organized, it directly connects him to other people, triggering imitation and social and emotional bonding. "Babies look at you and see themselves", Meltzoff adds to finalize. This means that, for babies, imitation is key to the development of a wide range of abilities, from language to various social skills.