The mirror neurone system AO3

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Created by
Sarah

Cards (5)

  • +Research support for role of mirror-neurons. Haker demonstrated using brain scans that Brodmann's Area 9 (part of the brain rich in mirror neurons) is involved in contagious yawning (a simple example of human empathy). Mouras found when men watched heterosexual pornography, activity in the pars opercularis was followed by sexual arousal. Presumably mirror neurons allowed the viewer to experience what they were watching (perspective-taking). This means that mirror neurons may have a role in empathy and perspective-taking.
  • -Difficulty studying systems in humans. Studies where electrodes are inserted in animal brains are not ethical in humans and the animal findings don't generalise to human cognition. Brain scanning (Haker) can be used but doesn't measure individual cells. Therefore there is no gold standard for measuring mirror neuron activity in humans (Bekkali), and no direct evidence for mirror neuron activity in humans.
  • +Applicable to explaining ASD. Hadjikhani reported that the pars opercularis (linked to perspective-taking) had a smaller-than-average thickness in people with ASD. Scanning has also shown lower activity levels in regions of the brain believed to be associated with high concentrations of mirror neurons compared to neurotypical brains. This suggests that a cause of ASD may be related to the mirror neuron system.
  • +-These findings are not reliable - according to a review of 25 studies by Hamilton evidence in this area is highly inconsistent. This means there may not be a link between ASD and mirror neuron activity after all.
  • Mirror neurons and perspective taking
    Maranesi found specific mirror neurons in monkeys' motor cortex fired according to the position and angle from which experimenters gestured - shows physical perspective is encoded by mirror neurons. However, Bekkali concluded that there is only weak evidence linking mirror neurons to social cognition in humans. This means that the idea that mirror neurons underlie human perspective-taking in social situations remains unproven.