Mirror Neurons

Question 1

What are Mirror neurons and who first observed them

Answer 1

Rizzolati observed monkeys had activity in the brain area which would control the same hand movement when just observing others doing the same hand movement

Question 2

Mirror neurons

Answer 2

When we observe someone else displaying an emotion, the brain area associated with that emotion is activated making us able to feel the emotion itself and empathise with others

Question 3

Mirror neurons in the development of social cognition

Answer 3

May be a biological mechanism through which we develop Theory of mind ability to understand and empathise with others emotions, allow us to develop social cognition skills.

Question 4

Mirror neuron research-Galleese

Answer 4

Used fmri scans to show inferior frontal cortex and anterior singulate cortex are active when we observe others emotions

Question 5

Mirror neuron research-Dapretto

Answer 5

Used fmri to show children with autism have less mirror neuron activity than children without-may explain why they find it harder to empathise and supports a biological basis for social cognition

Question 6

Evaluations-strengths

Answer 6

+Research support, Dapretto and Galleese both produced research studies suggesting mirror neurons are activated when we observe others emotions
+Practical application as an explanation for autism

Question 7

Evaluation-Limitation

Answer 7

-Original research lacks generalisability
-Hayes suggests that mirror neuron activity may be a result of effect of social interaction and empathising with others rather than the cause of what makes us understand others emotions

Question 8

Limitation-Hayes

Answer 8

Mirror neuron activity may be an effect of social interaction rather than the cause