mirror neurone system Flashcards
social cognition
Define what a mirror neurone is
ability to share emotions of those around us due to mirror neurones- ability has shaped development of human society
What was Rizzolatti’s research into the role of mirror neurones and what did he find
studied electrical activity in monkey’s motor cortex (part in brain controlling movement)- when researcher reached for their lunch, monkey’s motor cortex was activated in same way as if the monkey reached for food-> when we observe familiar behaviour we are able to work out intention as if we were to do it ourself
What did Gallese and Goldman discover about mirror neurones
mirror neurones respond as if we are expecting other’s intended behaviours
What did Ramachandran find when looking into the links between mirror neurones and human evolution
suggested mirror neurones are so important that they have shaped human evolution- uniquely complex interactions we have as humans that require a brain system that facilitates an understanding of intention, emotion and perspective
What did Ramachandran and Oberman when looking into their Broken Mirror Theory with mirror neurones in ASD children
they developed they idea that neurological deficits, including dysfunction in mirror neurone system, prevent a developing child imitating and understanding social behaviours in others- leads to difficulty in social communication in others as children fail to develop usual abilities
Evaluate the mirror neurone system
A: research support
- Haker demonstrated, via fMRI that Bradann’s area 9 (part of brain with mirror neurones) is involved in contagious yawning
- Mouras found when men watch heterosexual pornography, activity in pars operculum in Brian was activated by sexual arousal- mirror neurone allowed viewer to experience what they were watching
-> scientifically credible that mirror neurones exist
A: links to ASD are valid: Hadjikhani reviewed evidence for link to mirror neurone deficits and ASD- found those with ASD have smaller pars operculum thickness and studies using functional scans show lower brain activity in brain areas associated with mirror neurones in participants with ASD
-> scientifically credible through using scans
-> C: not all findings have been replicated consistently
-> can’t specify saying that ‘broken mirror theory’ is linked to autism as there is a lack of evidence
C: issues with experiments on mirror neurones
- Unethical testing on animals- involving inserting needles into their scalps which can be harmful to them
- Brain scans doesn’t measure brain cells- no standard on neurone imaging existing
-> lack of direct evidence as they infer measuring specific part of brain as measuring mirror neurones
