Mirror neurones

• What is a mirror neurone?

  A class of neurones that fire in response to when we do something and when we see others do something
• How are mirror neurones involved in imitation?

  The mirror neurone system may be responsible for why an individual imitates another
• Who found individuals with frontal lobe damage compulsively imitate what they see?

  L’Hermitte (1986)
• Who said we simulate others actions in our motor cortex and experience their intentions via our mirror neurones?

  Gallese and Goldman
• What did Iaccobini find?


  The highest level of mirror neurone activity was in the motor cortex, during a clip showing someone’s intentions
• What did Binkosfki find about mirror neurones in monkeys?

  They were located in the F5 region of their brain, which corresponds to our Broca’s area
• How are mirror neurones involved in language acquisition?


  The beginning of language involves imitation of sounds
• Who said that mirror neurones are important for evolution?


  Ramachandran - without abilities such as understanding emotion and intention we couldn’t live in large groups with complex social roles
• How are mirror neurones involved in perspective taking?


  If mirror neurones fire in response to others action and intentions, this may give a neural mechanism for understanding others perspective
• Who said autism is due to a broken mirror neurone system?

  Ramachandran
• Is there any evidence for mirror neurones in humans?

  No, only evidence is from fMRIs which don’t show single celled activity
• Who said mirror neurones were involved in contagious yawning?

  Haker - said there were mirror neurones in the Broddman’s area
• Where did Iaccobini find mirror neurones?


  Medial temporal lobe in Ps with epilepsy

  • This may make their brains atypical
• Who has more sensitive mirror neurones according to Cheung?

  Females
• Where did people with autism show less activity in?

  Inferior frontal gyrus, a brain area associated with mirror neurones
• Who said mirror neurones don’t exist?

  Churchland - they are just neurones
• How are mirror neurones reductionist?

  Mirror neurones aren’t solely responsible for social cognition

  • They are biological catalysts, necessary for social cognition but not sufficent
• What are issues with studying monkeys?

  Extrapolation issues