scholarly journals A developmental perspective on action and social cognition

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Krogh-Jespersen ◽  
Courtney Filippi ◽  
Amanda L. Woodward
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Motor Development ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Action Understanding ◽  
Developmental Research ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Target Article

AbstractThe target article argues that developmental processes are key to understanding the mirror neuron system, yet neglects several bodies of developmental research that are informative for doing so. Infants' actions and action understanding are structured by goals, and the former lends structure to the latter. Evaluating the origins and functions of mirror neurons depends on integrating investigations of neural, social-cognitive and motor development.

Intentionality of movement: Mirror neuron system and theory of mind

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 2113-2113 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Borghi ◽  
F. Binkofski
Keyword(s):  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Action Understanding ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
Motor Representation ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Additional Explanation

The ability to understand intentions of actions performed by others is one of the prerequisites for social interaction. This ability has been attributed to our capacity to mentalize others’ behaviour, by simulating or predicting their mental states that would cause that behaviour and make it comprehensible. Brain imaging studies revealed the so called “mentalizng network” including the pSTS/TPJ, the temporal poles and the medial prefrontal cortex. This network gets constantly activated anytime we try to take the perspective of others or try to simulate their state of mind. On the other hand the discovery of mirror neurons has provided an additional explanation for understanding of the content of actions. The functional properties of these neurons point out that action understanding is primarily based on a mechanism that directly matches the sensory representation of perceived actions with one's own motor representation of the same actions. We provide evidence that both systems interact closely during the processing of intentionality of actions. Thus mentalizing is not the only form of intentional understanding and motor and intentional components of action are closely interwoven. Both systems play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

scholarly journals The mirror neuron system as revealed through neonatal imitation: presence from birth, predictive power and evidence of plasticity

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1644) ◽  
pp. 20130289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Simpson ◽  
Lynne Murray ◽  
Annika Paukner ◽  
Pier F. Ferrari
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Motor Development ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
Action Perception ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Early Action ◽  
Perception System

There is strong evidence that neonates imitate previously unseen behaviours. These behaviours are predominantly used in social interactions, demonstrating neonates' ability and motivation to engage with others. Research on neonatal imitation can provide a wealth of information about the early mirror neuron system (MNS), namely its functional characteristics, its plasticity from birth and its relation to skills later in development. Although numerous studies document the existence of neonatal imitation in the laboratory, little is known about its natural occurrence during parent–infant interactions and its plasticity as a consequence of experience. We review these critical aspects of imitation, which we argue are necessary for understanding the early action–perception system. We address common criticisms and misunderstandings about neonatal imitation and discuss methodological differences among studies. Recent work reveals that individual differences in neonatal imitation positively correlate with later social, cognitive and motor development. We propose that such variation in neonatal imitation could reflect important individual differences of the MNS. Although postnatal experience is not necessary for imitation, we present evidence that neonatal imitation is influenced by experience in the first week of life.

scholarly journals Associative learning alone is insufficient for the evolution and maintenance of the human mirror neuron system

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay M. Oberman ◽  
Edward M. Hubbard ◽  
Joseph P. McCleery
Keyword(s):  
Associative Learning ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Cognitive Mechanisms ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Developmental Neuroscience ◽  
Species Comparisons

AbstractCook et al. argue that mirror neurons originate from associative learning processes, without evolutionary influence from social-cognitive mechanisms. We disagree with this claim and present arguments based upon cross-species comparisons, EEG findings, and developmental neuroscience that the evolution of mirror neurons is most likely driven simultaneously and interactively by evolutionarily adaptive psychological mechanisms and lower-level biological mechanisms that support them.

scholarly journals Before and below ‘theory of mind’: embodied simulation and the neural correlates of social cognition

2007 ◽  
Vol 362 (1480) ◽  
pp. 659-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vittorio Gallese
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Embodied Simulation ◽  
Automatic Translation ◽  
The Brain

The automatic translation of folk psychology into newly formed brain modules specifically dedicated to mind-reading and other social cognitive abilities should be carefully scrutinized. Searching for the brain location of intentions, beliefs and desires— as such —might not be the best epistemic strategy to disclose what social cognition really is. The results of neurocognitive research suggest that in the brain of primates, mirror neurons, and more generally the premotor system, play a major role in several aspects of social cognition, from action and intention understanding to language processing. This evidence is presented and discussed within the theoretical frame of an embodied simulation account of social cognition. Embodied simulation and the mirror neuron system underpinning it provide the means to share communicative intentions, meaning and reference, thus granting the parity requirements of social communication.

scholarly journals Is there a Relationship between EEG and sTMS Neurophysiological Markers of the Putative Human Mirror Neuron System?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soukayna Bekkali ◽  
George Joseph Youssef ◽  
Peter Donaldson ◽  
Christian Hyde ◽  
Michael Do ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Mu Suppression ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
System P ◽  
Potential Association

The mirror neuron system (MNS) has been theorised to play a neurobiological role in a number of social cognitive abilities and is commonly indexed putatively in humans via interpersonal motor resonance (IMR) and mu-suppression. Though both indices are thought to measure similar neuronal populations (i.e., ‘mirror neurons’), it has been suggested that these methods are unrelated, and therefore, incompatible. However, prior studies reporting no relationships were typically conducted in small and underpowered samples. Thus, we aimed to investigate this potential association in a large sample of neurotypical adults (N = 116; 72 females). Participants underwent TMS, electromyography (EMG), and electroencephalography (EEG) during the observation of videos of actors performing grasping actions in order to index IMR and mu-suppression (in beta, lower alpha, and upper alpha bandwidths). A series of linear regressions revealed no associations between IMR and each of the mu-suppression bandwidths. Supplementary Bayesian analyses provided further evidence in favour of the null (B01 = 8.85 - 8.93), providing further support for no association between the two indices of MNS activity. Our findings suggest that these two measures may indeed be unrelated indices that perhaps assess different neurophysiological aspects of the MNS. These results have important implications for future studies examining the MNS.

scholarly journals The human mirror neuron system—A common neural basis for social cognition?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie N. L. Schmidt ◽  
Joachim Hass ◽  
Peter Kirsch ◽  
Daniela Mier
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
System A

Eye Movements and Mirror Neurons

2020 ◽  
pp. 89-103
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Iurato
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Universal Algebra ◽  
Natural Science ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Phenomenological Theory ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Movement Dynamics

Denotational mathematics, in the context of universal algebra, may provide algebraic structures that are able to formalize human eye movement dynamics with respect to Husserlian phenomenological theory, from which it is then possible to make briefly reference to some further relations with mirror neuron system and related topics. In this way, the authors have provided a first instance of fruitful application of socio-humanities (to be precise, philosophy and sociology) in exact/natural science used in formalizing processes.

Language is fundamentally a social affair

2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-147
Author(s):  
Justin H. G. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Gestural Communication ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Social Affair ◽  
Cognitive Context ◽  
Evolutionary Advantage

Perhaps the greatest evolutionary advantage conferred by spoken language was its ability to communicate mentalistic concepts, rather than just extending the vocabulary of action already served by an imitation function. An appreciation that the mirror-neuron system served a simple mentalising function before gestural communication sets Arbib's theory in a more appropriate social cognitive context.

Mirror neuron system and social cognition

2013 ◽  
pp. 233-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Keysers ◽  
Marc Thioux ◽  
Valeria Gazzola
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neuron System

The mirror system in human and nonhuman primates

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy A. Orban
Keyword(s):  
Associative Learning ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Mirror System ◽  
Sensorimotor Learning ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Additional Testing

AbstractThe description of the mirror neuron system provided by Cook et al. is incomplete for the macaque, and incorrect for humans. This is relevant to exaptation versus associative learning as the underlying mechanism generating mirror neurons, and to the sensorimotor learning as evidence for the authors' viewpoint. The proposed additional testing of the mirror system in rodents is unrealistic.

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