Mirror neurons

Question 1

What are mirror neurons?

Answer 1

Brain cells that are activated when we see another person performing an action
The cell activation is the same as if we had performed the action ourselves, and they’re thought to allow humans to share an understanding of empathy

Question 2

How is research into mirror neurons carried out?

Answer 2

Brain scanning techniques
Areas of the brain such as the Pars Opercularis have been found to be rich in mirror neurons

Question 3

How have they shaped human evolution?

Answer 3

Has allowed us to live in large groups with complex, social roles, as it allows us to understand intention, emotion and perspective

Question 4

Link to ASD?

Answer 4

Dysfunction in mirror neutron system has been proposed as an explanation for deficits in social cognition shown by people with ASD
Supported by studies of ppts with ASD, using functional imaging that have shown lower activity in brain areas associated with mirror neurons

Question 5

Problem with brain scans?

Answer 5

Only identify areas that might be rich with mirror neurons, don’t allow activity in specific cells to be measured in the same way that animals are
Therefore, there is a lack of direct evidence to support existence of MNs in humans, Hickok (2009) questions their importance