When individuals learn from observing the behavior of others, they deploy at least two distinct strategies. Choice imitation involves repeating other agents' previous actions, whereas emulation proceeds from inferring their goals and intentions. Despite the prevalence of observational learning in humans and other social animals, a fundamental question remains unaddressed: how does the brain decide which strategy to use in a given situation? In two fMRI studies (the second a pre-registered replication of the first), we identify a neuro-computational mechanism underlying arbitration between choice imitation and goal emulation. Computational modeling, combined with a behavioral task that dissociated the two strategies, revealed that control over behavior was adaptively and dynamically weighted toward the most reliable strategy. Emulation reliability, the model's arbitration signal, was represented in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, and rostral cingulate cortex. Our replicated findings illuminate the computations by which the brain decides to imitate or emulate others.

中文翻译：

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人类观察学习期间选择模仿和目标模拟之间仲裁的神经计算解释。

当个体通过观察他人的行为来学习时，他们会部署至少两种不同的策略。选择模仿涉及重复其他智能体之前的行为，而模仿则是通过推断他们的目标和意图来进行的。尽管观察学习在人类和其他社会动物中很普遍，但一个基本问题仍然没有得到解决：大脑如何决定在特定情况下使用哪种策略？在两项功能磁共振成像研究中（第二项是第一项的预先注册复制），我们确定了选择模仿和目标模拟之间仲裁的神经计算机制。计算模型与分离这两种策略的行为任务相结合，揭示了对行为的控制是自适应且动态地偏向最可靠的策略。仿真可靠性（模型的仲裁信号）由腹外侧前额叶皮层、颞顶交界处和吻侧扣带皮层表示。我们的重复发现阐明了大脑决定模仿或效仿他人的计算过程。