Mirror Neurons

Mirror neurons are a type of neuron found in areas of the brain that control motor functions. Specifically, they’re found in the premotor cortex and primary somatosensory cortex of primates. Neuroscientists discovered these neurons in the early 1990s and have since become fascinated with their potential implications for a variety of cognitive functions. Mirror neurons fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe another individual performing an action. This has prompted scientists to studying whether the neurons are involved in empathy, or allowing someone to experience the emotions of another person. Research suggests this is indeed the case, as individuals who have greater activation of their mirror neurons tend to be more empathetic. Mirror neurons may also play a role in language acquisition, allowing individuals to acquire and understand language by imitating the movements of others. Although the exact role of mirror neurons is still being researched, scientists believe that these neurons may be involved in a wide variety of cognitive functions, including understanding the intentions of others, emotion recognition, and learning through imitation. Currently, scientists are conducting research to further understand the role of mirror neurons in social interactions. For example, scientists are using fMRI scans to identify which areas of the brain become activated when an individual imitates the movements of another or when a person empathizes with someone else’s emotions. Through this research, scientists hope to one day be able to treat disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, which are thought to involve deficits in mirror neuron functioning.