COG AND DEV : Mirror Neuron Flashcards
Neuron
nerve cells that transmit info thorugh electrical impulses.
What is a mirror neuron (2m)
Mirror neurons are a specialised neuron that fires when performing an action as well as firing when watching another person perform an action,
which is the neuron ‘mirroring’ what the observer can see others do. This is associated with perspective taking skills and underlying empathy.
Rizzolati et al (2002)
mirror neurons first discovered in monkeys motor cortex, responded to own and others activity, finding similar activation patterns
mirror neurons fire when a monkey mirrors motor activity in others
Monkey picks up banana = fired
Monkey sees human pick up banana = fired
How are mirror neurons involved in social cognition
Intention = mirror neurons respond to observed actions but also to intentions (motivations/goals)
What is social cognition
the mental processes that people use to understand/process info about others emotions and actions.
Who first discovered mirror neurons and in what study
Rizzolati disocovered them in monkeys motor cortex
How are mirror neurons involved in perspective taking
4 bullet points
if mirror neurons fire in response to other actions and intentions,
this gives us neural mechanisms for experience ig and understanding others perspectives and emotional states.
Therefore our neurons are active as if we had personally acted,
and by doing that the neural mirroring enables the observed to identify the goal or intent they would have if they were the ones doing it
Ramachandran and Oberman
(2006) ‘broken mirror’ theory of autism
Neurological deficits, including dysfunction in the mirror neuron system, prevents a child imitating and understanding social behaviour in others.
In infancy children typically mimic adult behaviours less than others. Later children show difficulties in social communication as children fail to develop the usual abilities to read intention and emotion in others.
How are mirror neurons used to outline autism
‘Broken mirror neurons theory’
Neurological deficits, including dysfunction in the mirror neuron system, prevents a child imitating and understanding social behaviour in others.
In infancy children typically mimic adult behaviours less than others. Later children show difficulties in social communication as children fail to develop the usual abilities to read intention and emotion in others.
This is associated with autism, one of the common traits which are social communication and understanding
What is broken mirror neuron theory
Theory that links mirror neurons to autism
Ramachandran and Oberman (2006) ‘broken mirror’ theory of autism
Neurological deficits, including dysfunction in the mirror neuron system, prevents a child imitating and understanding social behaviour in others.
In infancy children typically mimic adult behaviours less than others. Later children show difficulties in social communication as children fail to develop the usual abilities to read intention and emotion in others.
Haker et al
Haker er al (2012) - focused on contagious yawning - as an example of the ability to perceive mental states in others.
FMRI: used to assess brain activity while when participants stimulating to yawn by watching others.
When yawning in response the Brodmanns area showed considerable activity, believed to be rich in mirror neurons (the right frontal lobe)
How is yawning linked to mirror neurons
What study
Haker er al (2012) - focused on contagious yawning - as an example of the ability to perceive mental states in others.
FMRI: used to assess brain activity while when participants stimulating to yawn by watching others.
When yawning in response the Brodmanns area showed considerable activity, believed to be rich in mirror neurons (the right frontal lobe)
What area shows considerable activity when mirror neurons are stimulated
BRODMANNS AREA
Haker er al (2012) - focused on contagious yawning - as an example of the ability to perceive mental states in others.
FMRI: used to assess brain activity while when participants stimulating to yawn by watching others.
When yawning in response the Brodmanns area showed considerable activity, believed to be rich in mirror neurons (the right frontal lobe)
Hadjikhani
Hadjikhani: An area rich in mirror neurons and associated with perspective taking has smaller average thickness in autistic people compared to neurotypical people.
THIS MEANS
That broken mirror neurons theory has plausibility as a link to autism
Nishitani et al
activity also lower in other areas rich in mirror neurons in autistic people.
The broken mirror neuron theory of autism has some credibity as
1: the close link between signs of autism and roles of mirror neurons in social cognition
2: research evidence using scanning technology STRENGTH: SCANNING TECHNIQUE ARE SCIENTIFIC RATHER THAN INFERENCES FROM BEHAVIOUR OBSERVATIONS
