Mirror Neurons

• Mirror nerouns?


  neurons that fire in response to seeing someone doing an action. localised in interior frontal gyrus
• purpose?


  allow human beings to form social networks and to bond with each other. EMPATHY: participants  anterior cingulate cortex and inferior frontal gyrus were activated when observing emotions in other people
• social cognition?


  deficits in social cognition may be linked to problems in mirror neuron function, investiagted using scanning techniques- certain arear may be rich in mirror neurons include Brodmann's area of the frontal lobe
• Haker et al (2012)?

  ppts film of others yawning during a MRI scan. when they yawned in response. increased activity in the frontal lobe thought to be rich in mirror neurons
• Muckamel et al (2010)?


  reported research which showed activity in single neurons( when performing and when observing a task)?
• Cheung et al?


  showed male and female ppts a moving dot & hand motions during an EEG. female performance greater for the hand actions. This provided support for women greater social sensitivity.
• Dapretto (2006)?


  autistic children had reduced activity in a part of the inferior frontal lobe ( an area known to be part of the mirror neuron system)
• Firing?


  both in response to personal actions and action of others.
• Discovery?


  Rizzolatti- studying electrical activity in monkeys motor cortex. monkeys motor cortex activates same way as when reaching for food as when watching a human reach for food
• Vilayanur Ramachandran?


  suggested mirror neurons shape human evolution. social interactions require a brain system that facilitate understanding of intention.
• ASD (Autism spectrum disorder)?


  Ramachandran & Oberman (2006)- broken mirror theory- neurological deficits including dysfunctions in mirror neuron system can prevent child from imitating and understanding social behaviour.
• social communication?


  problems with mirror neurons systems leads to difficulties in social communication as children fail to develop usual abilities to read intentions and emotions in others
• Binkofsi et al (2000)?


  brain imaging techniques, found evidence of motor neurons in Brocas area. involved in speech production and is the equivalent of the F5- motor neuron found in monkeys.