Social Cognition: Mirror Neuron System Flashcards
What is the mirror neuron system?
Consists of special brain cells called mirror neurons distributed in several areas of the brain.
Why are mirror neurons unique?
They fire both in response to personal actions and in response to action on the part of others.
Who discovered mirror neurons?
Giacomo Rizzolatti
How did Giacomo Rizzolatti discover mirror neurons?
Studying electrical activity in motor cortex of monkeys.
When one of the researchers reached for their lunch the part of the brain response for motor action became active in the monkeys- as if they themselves were reaching for the lunch
Why are they called mirror neurons?
The mirror neurons mirror motor activity in another individual.
How are mirror neurons linked to intention?
It is suggested that our mirror neurons don’t just respond in regards to observed behaviour but also in response to interpreting the intentions of others.
E.G Interpreting someone is hungry because they stare at food, but they don’t actually move/reach for it.
How are mirror neurons linked to perspective taking?
If mirror neurons fire in response to others’ actions and intentions this may give us a neural mechanism for experiencing- thus understanding other peoples perspectives and emotional states.
How are mirror neurons linked to evolution?
Ramachandran argues mirror neurons are important in society as they allow us to cope in large groups with the complex social roles and rules that characterise human culture.
Facilitate our ability to understand emotion and intention.
How are mirror neurons linked to ASD?
Ramachandran proposed the broken mirror theory- suggest that individuals with ASD may have deficits in their mirror neuron system which correlates with their struggles in social communication (understanding intention/emotion).
What research supports the idea of the mirror neuron system (Yawning)?
Haker (2012).
Scanned brains of people (watching a film of people yawning).
Levels of activity in Brodmann’s Area 9, increased when participants yawned in response.
What research supports the idea of the mirror neuron system (pornography)?
Harold Mouras (2008)
Showed activity in the pars opercularis, increased just before participants experienced erections whilst watching heterosexual pornography.
Presumed mirror neurons were responding- allowing them to experience what they were watching.
What is a limitation of mirror neuron system?
Animal studies involve implanting electrodes in the brain to study electrical activity.
Ethically impossible to do this in humans and issue of anthropomorphism.
An alternative is to use brain scanning techniques BUT only show activity in brain areas not individual cells.
What research supports the link between ASD and the mirror neuron system?
Hadjikhani (2007) found a smaller average of thickness of pars opercularis in people with ASD then neurotypical people in brain scans.
Nishitani (2004) found lower activity levels in the brain regions believed to be associated with high concentrations of mirror neurons.
What is an issue with the research linking ASD and the mirror neuron system?
A systematic review of 25 studies by Antonio Hamilton (2013) concluded that evidence was highly inconsistent and results hard to interpret.
Means there may not be a link.
