Mirror Neurons

• Rizzolatti et al found that a macaque monkey's motor cortex activated when they reached for food and the exact same motor cortex activated when they saw other monkeys reach for food. They called these brain cells mirror neurons bc they mirror the activity we see in others
• Mirror neurons provide a bio explanation for social cognition as they explain how an individual can imitate beh of another.

  • The facilitate empathy
  • as when we see someone produce a facial expression the Mirror neurons in our brain that are responsible for facial expressions fire
  • This activates feelings associated with that facial expression which helps us feel the same emotions we observe in others.
  • This allows a person to understand the emotional cognitions behind their expressions - as a result they show empathy
  • e.g. see frown with sadness - MN fire - frown - feel sad - empathise
• Goldman claimed that MNs may be a precursor to ToM as they enable us to dev ToM

  • MNs enable us to exp the emotions of others as if we exp them ourselves
  • Therefore allows for perspective taking and therefore being able to attribute mental states to others (ToM)
• Ramachandran + Oberman - broken mirror theory of ASD

  • Dysfunctions in MNs prevent a developing child from imitating and consequently understanding social beh in others
  • Explains why kids with ASD typically imitate adult beh less
  • These problems with MNs lead to difficulties in reading emotions in others - therefore issues with social cognition
• S - evidence supporting link between MN dysfunction and ASD. Hadjikhani - structural brain scans show smaller average thickness for pars opercularis (brain region rich in MNs) in Ps with ASD. Other studies have shown lower activity in brain areas associated with MN in those with ASD. S bc shows MNs are crucial to social cognition bc those with ASD have problems with social cognition also have issues with MNs. Suggests MN dysfunction is an underlying factor contributing to ASD. / V
• W - relies heavily on animal research. In order to study MNs - R insert electrodes into brain cells. Can't do this to humans as its unethical so most R is on animals. W bc - human brain is much more complex than an animals. As a result, findings from animal research regarding MNs and social cognition cannot be applied to humans. \V
• W - considered reductionist. R has shown that social cognition and ToM can develop through social interactions rather than MNs. Astington - ToM is initially seen in others through interactions with adults and peers and eventually internalised and demonstrated by us. W bc shows social cognition is very complex and shouldn't be oversimplified to purely bio activity. Due to an incomplete explanation - understanding \V
• W - some suggest MNs may not exist and some argue that their role in social cognition is exaggerated. Some Rs Q the existence of MNs. Hicock - we only known MNs by what they do and we can't identify individual cells or point to their differences from other neurons. On the other hand, Gopnik argues that the role of MNs in social cognition as once thought, is exaggerated and that complex moral and emotional beh cannot be fully explained by MNs alone. Therefore understanding \V