Where do mirror neurons come from?

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Cecilia Heyes

Abstract

Debates about the evolution of the 'mirror neuron system' imply that it is an adaptation for action understanding. Alternatively, mirror neurons may be a byproduct of associative learning. Here I argue that the adaptation and associative hypotheses both offer plausible accounts of the origin of mirror neurons, but the associative hypothesis has three advantages. First, it provides a straightforward, testable explanation for the differences between monkeys and humans that have led some researchers to question the existence of a mirror neuron system. Second, it is consistent with emerging evidence that mirror neurons contribute to a range of social cognitive functions, but do not play a dominant, specialised role in action understanding. Finally, the associative hypothesis is supported by recent data showing that, even in adulthood, the mirror neuron system can be transformed by sensorimotor learning. The associative account implies that mirror neurons come from sensorimotor experience, and that much of this experience is obtained through interaction with others. Therefore, if the associative account is correct, the mirror neuron system is a product, as well as a process, of social interaction.

References

Jan 1, 1992·Experimental Brain Research·G di PellegrinoG Rizzolatti
Jan 1, 1987·Psychological Review·J M Pearce
Mar 1, 1996·Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research·G RizzolattiL Fogassi
Apr 1, 1996·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·V GalleseG Rizzolatti
Jun 1, 1996·Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research·E M Macphail
Jun 4, 1998·Trends in Neurosciences·G Rizzolatti, M A Arbib
Jan 5, 2000·Science·M IacoboniG Rizzolatti
Jun 9, 2000·Annual Review of Neuroscience·W Schultz, A Dickinson
Jun 5, 2001·Neuroreport·M GangitanoA Pascual-Leone
Apr 27, 2002·Experimental Brain Research·Lisa Aziz-ZadehMarco Iacoboni
Mar 26, 2003·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Marc HeiserJohn C Mazziotta
Apr 12, 2003·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Andrew N Meltzoff, Jean Decety
May 20, 2003·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Pier Francesco FerrariLeonardo Fogassi
Aug 26, 2003·Experimental Brain Research·C KeysersV Gallese
Mar 10, 2004·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Giovanni BuccinoGiacomo Rizzolatti
Jun 26, 2004·Annual Review of Neuroscience·Giacomo Rizzolatti, Laila Craighero
Nov 1, 1949·Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology and Cognate Medical Sciences·C O HEBB, H KONZETT
Sep 29, 2004·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Massimo GangitanoAlvaro Pascual-Leone
Oct 20, 2004·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Christian Keysers, David I Perrett
Jan 18, 2005·Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research·Cecilia HeyesPatrick Haggard
Apr 7, 2005·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Pier Francesco FerrariLeonardo Fogassi
Apr 7, 2005·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·B HaslingerA O Ceballos-Baumann
Apr 30, 2005·Science·Leonardo FogassiGiacomo Rizzolatti
Oct 15, 2005·Science·Koen NelissenGuy A Orban
Mar 15, 2006·NeuroImage·Emily S CrossScott T Grafton
Mar 17, 2006·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Lisa Aziz-ZadehMarco Iacoboni
Aug 26, 2006·The European Journal of Neuroscience·A D'AusilioM Lotze
Sep 7, 2006·PLoS Biology·Pier F FerrariStephen J Suomi
Sep 19, 2006·Current Biology : CB·Valeria GazzolaChristian Keysers
Sep 22, 2006·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Lior Shmuelof, Ehud Zohary
Dec 22, 2006·Developmental Science·György GergelyIldikó Király
Apr 7, 2007·Neuroreport·James M KilnerChris D Frith
May 29, 2007·Nature Neuroscience·Roger D Newman-NorlundHarold Bekkering
Jun 29, 2007·Journal of Neurophysiology·Ilan DinsteinDavid J Heeger
Jul 12, 2007·PloS One·Bernhard Voelkl, Ludwig Huber
Jul 17, 2007·Current Biology : CB·Valeria GazzolaChristian Keysers
Aug 9, 2007·Developmental Science·Jean-François Lepage, Hugo Théoret
Aug 19, 2007·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Clare PressCecilia Heyes
Aug 25, 2007·Current Biology : CB·Caroline CatmurCecilia Heyes
Dec 12, 2007·Human Brain Mapping·Elizabeth Hellmuth MargulisPatrick C M Wong
May 2, 2008·Journal of Physiology, Paris·Bradford Z Mahon, Alfonso Caramazza
Aug 5, 2008·Trends in Neurosciences·Andreas BartelsKonstantinos Moutoussis
Aug 19, 2008·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·Giacomo Rizzolatti, Maddalena Fabbri-Destro
Sep 12, 2008·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Caroline CatmurCecilia Heyes

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 3, 2011·Psychological Research·Cosimo UrgesiSalvatore M Aglioti
Feb 6, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Michèle BelotCecilia Heyes
Jun 1, 2011·Cognitive Neuroscience·Jeremy Hogeveen, Sukhvinder S Obhi
Nov 29, 2011·Cognitive Neuroscience·Michael S A Graziano, Sabine Kastner
May 21, 2013·Developmental Neuropsychology·Daniel J Shaw, Kristína Czekóová
Jun 21, 2011·Cerebral Cortex·Andrea CavalloUmberto Castiello
May 9, 2012·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Guido Barchiesi, Luigi Cattaneo
Jun 13, 2012·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Markus PaulusHarold Bekkering
Nov 19, 2010·Biology Letters·Clare PressJames M Kilner
Jul 29, 2011·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Richard CookCecilia Heyes
Apr 12, 2012·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Bert TimmermansAxel Cleeremans
Jun 27, 2012·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Robert A Barton
Jun 27, 2012·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Cecilia Heyes
Aug 29, 2012·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Cecilia Heyes
Oct 16, 2010·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Caroline CatmurCecilia Heyes
Aug 5, 2011·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Zarinah K AgnewSophie K Scott
Sep 16, 2011·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Luca F TiciniFlorian Waszak
Apr 7, 2011·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Antonino CasilePier Francesco Ferrari
Nov 11, 2011·PloS One·Claire LandmannValeria Della-Maggiore
Dec 20, 2012·PloS One·Clare PressGeoffrey Bird
May 25, 2013·PloS One·Nadine DierschSimone Schütz-Bosbach
Mar 19, 2011·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Clare PressJames Kilner
Dec 27, 2011·Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience·Nicholas R CooperSteffan Kennett
Jul 23, 2011·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Markus PaulusHarold Bekkering
Dec 12, 2012·Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine·Sourya Acharya, Samarth Shukla
Oct 15, 2013·Sports Medicine·Tjerk ZultTibor Hortobágyi
May 14, 2014·Acta Psychologica·Nicole T OngNicola J Hodges
Apr 30, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Cecilia Heyes
Apr 30, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Giacomo Vivanti, Sally J Rogers
Apr 30, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Sabine Hunnius, Harold Bekkering
Apr 30, 2014·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Richard CookCecilia Heyes
May 28, 2013·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Andrea CavalloCaroline Catmur
Jun 19, 2014·Biological cybernetics·Friedemann PulvermüllerThomas Wennekers
Sep 24, 2014·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Elena GeanguChiara Turati
Jun 12, 2013·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Nikolaas N OosterhofPaul E Downing
Aug 21, 2013·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Pier F FerrariAtsushi Iriki

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
Caroline CatmurCecilia Heyes
Annual Review of Neuroscience
Giacomo Rizzolatti, Laila Craighero
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved