The ontogenetic origins of mirror neurons: evidence from 'tool-use' and 'audiovisual' mirror neurons.

Biology Letters
Richard Cook

Abstract

Since their discovery, mirror neurons--units in the macaque brain that discharge both during action observation and execution--have attracted considerable interest. Whether mirror neurons are an innate endowment or acquire their sensorimotor matching properties ontogenetically has been the subject of intense debate. It is widely believed that these units are an innate trait; that we are born with a set of mature mirror neurons because their matching properties conveyed upon our ancestors an evolutionary advantage. However, an alternative view is that mirror neurons acquire their matching properties during ontogeny, through correlated experience of observing and performing actions. The present article re-examines frequently overlooked neurophysiological reports of 'tool-use' and 'audiovisual' mirror neurons within the context of this debate. It is argued that these findings represent compelling evidence that mirror neurons are a product of sensorimotor experience, and not an innate endowment.

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Citations

May 21, 2013·Developmental Neuropsychology·Daniel J Shaw, Kristína Czekóová
Dec 20, 2012·PloS One·Clare PressGeoffrey Bird
Jun 14, 2013·Psychological Medicine·J CookS-J Blakemore
Apr 30, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Cecilia Heyes
Feb 24, 2016·Frontiers in Psychology·Scott J Robson, Valerie A Kuhlmeier
Dec 3, 2014·Neuroscience Letters·Hirotaka MoriShintaro Uehara
Aug 5, 2017·Brain Structure & Function·Jed D BurgessPeter G Enticott
Apr 30, 2014·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Richard CookCecilia Heyes
Jun 5, 2014·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Caroline CatmurCecilia Heyes
Jul 1, 2020·Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback·Eve Floriane FabreMickaël Causse

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