The Mirror Neuron System

Question 1

What are mirror neurons?

Answer 1

Specialised neurons which are activated when we observe the motor actions of others and when we perform motor actions ourselves.

Question 2

How were mirror neurons discovered?

Answer 2

Rizzolatti et al:
1. Studied electrical activity in monkey’s motor cortex.
2. Motor cortex became activated when monkey observed researcher reach for his lunch.
3. Activation was the same as if the monkey reached for food.
4. Found that the same brain cells are fired when monkey reached for food itself or observed someone else reach for food.

Question 3

Why are mirror neurons called this?

Answer 3

The neurons mirror motor activity of another individual

Question 4

What did Gallese and Goldman suggest with regards to mirror neurons?

Answer 4

1. Mirror neurons respond to intentions of behaviour.
2. We stimulate other people’s actions in our motor system and experience their intentions using our mirror neurons.

Question 5

What link is there between mirror neurons and perspective taking?

Answer 5

1. If mirror neurons fire in response to other people’s actions + intentions, this may give us a mechanism for understanding their behaviour.
2. Mirror neurons may allow us to interpret what others are thinking and feeling.

Question 6

What did Ramachandran suggest with mirror neurons?

Answer 6

1. Mirror neurons have shaped evolution.
2. Interactions require an understanding of intention and perspective.
3. MNs key to understanding the way humans have developed.

Question 7

What is meant by the ‘broken mirror’ theory of autism?

Answer 7

The idea that deficits such as dysfunction in the mirror neuron system prevent a child from imitating and understanding social behaviour.

Question 8

Give one weakness of mirror neurons.

Answer 8

1. Initial research carried out on monkeys.
   Studying neurons would be very hard to do with human; unethical.
   Cannot be falsified.
   May not exist, simply inferring link between brain activity and ms.

Question 9

Give two strengths of mirror neurons.

Answer 9

1. Research support.
   Haker et al: considerable activity in broadmann’s area when pps watched a film of ppl yawning.
   Broadmann’s area rich in mirror neurons.
   Therefore, MNs play key role in imitating.
2. Damage to MNs results in deficits.
   Tranel et al: damage to left premotor area of brain resulted in being unable to explain motor actions.
   MNs can explain deficits.