Mirror neuron

"Mirror system" redirects here. For the band, see Mirror System.
Mirror system
Identifiers
MeSHD059167
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

A mirror neuron is a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another.[1][2][3] Thus, the neuron "mirrors" the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting. Mirror neurons are not always physiologically distinct from other types of neurons in the brain; their main differentiating factor is their response patterns.[4] By this definition, such neurons have been directly observed in humans[5] and primate species,[6] and in birds.[7]

In humans, brain activity consistent with that of mirror neurons has been found in the premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area, the primary somatosensory cortex, and the inferior parietal cortex.[8] The function of the mirror system in humans is a subject of much speculation. Birds have been shown to have imitative resonance behaviors and neurological evidence suggests the presence of some form of mirroring system.[6][9] To date, no widely accepted neural or computational models have been put forward to describe how mirror neuron activity supports cognitive functions.[10][11][12]

The subject of mirror neurons continues to generate intense debate. In 2014, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B published a special issue entirely devoted to mirror neuron research.[13] Some researchers speculate that mirror systems may simulate observed actions, and thus contribute to theory of mind skills,[14][15] while others relate mirror neurons to language abilities.[16] Neuroscientists such as Marco Iacoboni have argued that mirror neuron systems in the human brain help humans understand the actions and intentions of other people. In addition, Iacoboni has argued that mirror neurons are the neural basis of the human capacity for emotions such as empathy.[17]

  1. ^ Rizzolatti G, Craighero L (2004). "The mirror-neuron system". Annual Review of Neuroscience. 27 (1): 169–192. doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144230. PMID 15217330. S2CID 1729870.
  2. ^ Keysers C (November 2009). "Mirror neurons". Current Biology. 19 (21): R971–R973. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.08.026. hdl:20.500.11755/c62977db-8a4e-4cc9-b82a-5013b52a0bc6. PMID 19922849. S2CID 12668046.
  3. ^ Keysers C (2011-06-23). The Empathic Brain. Kindle.
  4. ^ Acharya, Sourya; Shukla, Samarth (2012). "Mirror neurons: Enigma of the metaphysical modular brain". Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine. 3 (2): 118–124. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.101878. PMC 3510904. PMID 23225972.
  5. ^ Mukamel R, Ekstrom AD, Kaplan J, Iacoboni M, Fried I (April 2010). "Single-neuron responses in humans during execution and observation of actions". Current Biology. 20 (8): 750–756. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2010.02.045. PMC 2904852. PMID 20381353.
  6. ^ a b Rizzolatti G, Fadiga L, Fogassi L, Gallese V (May 1999). "Resonance behaviors and mirror neurons". Archives Italiennes de Biologie. 137 (2–3): 85–100. PMID 10349488.
  7. ^ Prather JF, Peters S, Nowicki S, Mooney R (January 2008). "Precise auditory-vocal mirroring in neurons for learned vocal communication". Nature. 451 (7176): 305–310. Bibcode:2008Natur.451..305P. doi:10.1038/nature06492. PMID 18202651. S2CID 4344150.
  8. ^ Molenberghs P, Cunnington R, Mattingley JB (July 2009). "Is the mirror neuron system involved in imitation? A short review and meta-analysis". Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 33 (7): 975–980. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.03.010. PMID 19580913. S2CID 25620637.
  9. ^ Akins CK, Klein ED, Zentall TR (August 2002). "Imitative learning in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) using the bidirectional control procedure". Animal Learning & Behavior. 30 (3): 275–281. doi:10.3758/bf03192836. PMID 12391793.
  10. ^ Dinstein I, Thomas C, Behrmann M, Heeger DJ (January 2008). "A mirror up to nature". Current Biology. 18 (1): R13–R18. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.11.004. PMC 2517574. PMID 18177704.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hickok was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Heyes, Cecilia (March 2010). "Where do mirror neurons come from?". Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 34 (4): 575–583. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.11.007. PMID 19914284. S2CID 2578537.
  13. ^ Ferrari PF, Rizzolatti G (2014). "Mirror neuron research: the past and the future". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 369 (1644): 20130169. doi:10.1098/rstb.2013.0169. PMC 4006175. PMID 24778369.
  14. ^ Keysers C, Gazzola V (2006). "Towards a unifying neural theory of social cognition". Understanding Emotions. Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 156. pp. 379–401. doi:10.1016/S0079-6123(06)56021-2. ISBN 9780444521828. PMID 17015092.
  15. ^ Arbib MA (April 2012). How the brain got language: The mirror system hypothesis. Oxford University Press.
  16. ^ Théoret H, Pascual-Leone A (October 2002). "Language acquisition: do as you hear". Current Biology. 12 (21): R736–R737. doi:10.1016/S0960-9822(02)01251-4. PMID 12419204.
  17. ^ Blakeslee S (January 10, 2006). "Cells That Read Minds". New York Times | Science.