The temporal architecture of human interaction (i.e. the manner in which an interaction unfolds over time) is integral to human development and wellbeing. In particular, a narrative temporal framework (consisting of phases of arousal and intensity split into four distinct states: introduction, development, climax and resolution) has been shown to underpin our interactions, structure our engagement with the world, and even potentially underlie our evolution. To date, the experimental examination of narrative theory has only been applied to human beings. However, in this project we aimed to advance narrative theory through mapping chimpanzee interaction over time and identifying patterns in arousal to determine whether they follow the narrative framework common to human culture and engagement.

To this end, in collaboration with the Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior at Kyoto University, we recorded laboratory-based interactions between chimpanzees. We then coded these interactions to ascertain the types of behavior displayed and the arousal level of the chimpanzees throughout the engagements. Our preliminary findings have shown strong similarities with narrative structure. We now aim to build on this work in future collaborations with colleagues at Kyoto University, to further examine the presence of narrative in naturalistic chimpanzee interactions and explore the serial organization of subsecond action kinematics of chimpanzee touch.

Early interactions between adults and infants are inherently multimodal. Both parties engage in a repertoire of behaviors to connect with one another, fostering shared affective states and foundational meaning-making. This is the essence of primary intersubjectivity—a shared experience that facilitates the creation of affective meaning in the earliest stages of human life. The way these interactions unfold over time, through sequences of action and attention, is fundamental to human experience.

A narrative structure, characterised by phases of changing arousal and intensity, has been proposed to play a vital role in this process. Jerome Bruner argued that a narrative framework serves as both a praxis for human communication and a fundamental mode of cognition. Meanwhile, scholars such as Colwyn Trevarthen have identified narrative as central to the musicality of early interactions. In this study, we aim to explore the development and evolution of narrative in early engagements to better understand its form, function, and often-overlooked role in traditional experimental paradigms. By doing so, we hope to gain a deeper appreciation of intersubjective narratives in early education and healthcare, as well as identify opportunities for purposeful intervention.

An infant’s ability to imitate a caregiver is one of the behaviours deployed in early intersubjective engagement. The capacity of newborn infants to match facial gestures modeled by an adult has even influenced theories of early social development. However, experimental findings that purport to demonstrate this behavior have been questioned, leading to an ongoing international debate regarding its scientific basis.

Recent research suggests that the temporal organization of infants’ responses influences whether imitation is observed in traditional experimental paradigms—a factor that has largely been overlooked. In this study, we integrate artificial intelligence with traditional psychological research methods to conduct a multimodal analysis of infant imitation from birth to three months. This analysis considers movement, vocalisation, arousal, affect, and expression. In collaboration with a research team at Linköping University, our goal is to provide a detailed description of how infants’ imitative responses are framed and evolve over time. Specifically, we aim to capture the temporal patterns that underpin successful acts of imitation and determine whether they align with a narrative structure.

Although a growing body of evidence supports the presence of narrative in early adult-infant interactions, its precise developmental trajectory in infancy remains largely unmapped. In this project, we sought to chart the emergence and evolution of infant narrative using recordings collected by the University of Copenhagen.

We analysed longitudinal data from 18 mother-infant pairs, examining the temporal structure of narrative interactions at infant ages 4, 7, and 10 months. During these sessions, mothers and infants engaged in face-to-face free play while being recorded from multiple perspectives. Using these recordings, we conducted a microanalysis of infant gaze, affect, engagement duration, and narrative phase.

Our results revealed a shifting temporal structure in the first year of life, in which interactions become increasingly narrative-driven, following characteristic patterns of changing arousal and intensity. This enhances our understanding of pre-linguistic narrative development and its relationship to infant emotional states. Furthermore, it provides a new baseline for assessing developmental disruptions, such as those arising from postnatal maternal depression, which we hope to build on in future work.