Mirror Neurons

Mirror neurons are a type of neuron found in the brain which respond both when a person performs an action, and when they observe an action being performed by another. They were first discovered in 1992 by a group of Italian researchers. Since then, mirror neurons have been studied extensively in the field of neuroscience, and have been found to be activated in various regions of the brain related to both motor movement and social cognition. The action of mirror neurons is thought to be involved in the understanding of the actions of others. For instance, if an individual watches someone performing an action, the same mirror neurons will be activated in the observer as if the observer themselves had performed the action. This mechanism allows us to track the movements of others, and simulate these actions in our own brain. Studies have suggested that mirror neurons are important for social learning, empathy, and imitation. Imitation is an important tool for human development, and allowing us to quickly learn from our peers. Empathy also involves a similar process, where we can put ourselves in the shoes of another person, by simulating their feelings and emotions in our own brains. Mirror neurons also appear to play a role in the development of specific behaviors or skills. For instance, children who are taught to play an instrument learn quickly by imitating their teacher; mirror neurons engage in this process by allowing the child to imitate the movement of the teacher’s hands. Overall, mirror neurons provide us with an understanding of other’s actions, allowing us to quickly learn from and imitate them. The action of mirror neurons is also believed to be important for symbolic understanding, as well as for the development of both motor and social skills.