Adaptive leader-follower role switching based on rhythm stability: Toward modeling of dynamic infant-caregiver interaction

Ryo Iwaki, Hideyuki Takahashi, Minoru Asada

Abstract: Infants often synchronize rhythm pattern of their body movement with their caregivers. Developmental scientists assume that infant-caregiver body synchrony is a fundamental factor for maturing their close relationship and it facilitates social development of infants [1-2]. When multiple individuals are in synchrony, they tend to mimic each other's behavior [3]. One agent generates own behaviors on the basis of self-initiated rhythms as a “leader”, and the other agent mimics (follows) the leader's rhythm, as a “follower”. The relationship between two agents can be described by the four types of leader-follower combination as following: {agent A, agent B} = state 1{leader, follower}; state 2{follower, follower}; state 3{leader, leader}; state 4{follower, follower}[4]. We consider that synchrony is formed between two agents in the states where they take different roles (state 1 and 2). For example, in an orchestra, a skillful conductor leads the other members as a leader and each member follows the conductor as a follower.