The discovery of the mirror neurons system (MNS) in humans has profoundly influenced psychology and cognitive neuroscience. New knowledge of mirror neurons have introduced ideas to explain the development of different behaviours and cognitive processes. Concerning the MNS imitation and empathy are examples of extensively researched topics. Mirror neurons can be linked to violence because we are possibly wired to automatically internalise the movements and mental state of others; and this is how we learn behaviours. If behaviours such as violence is assumed to be taught through imitation, the movements and mentality of them would be crucial factors to be able to understand. Mirror neurons can potentially provide a plausible neurobiological mechanism …show more content…
Violence can be an example of a behaviour being taught and developed through these theories, and can explain the ‘contagious’ nature of violence. You find violence; actions done with intent to harm, in the media, TV, and through video games but also through real life present observations or interactions with people. Some research suggests it is through observation and imitation violence and aggression is developed, other research has found that it is developed or taught in different ways. It has also been suggested that violence isn’t necessarily taught either. This paper will try to examine the different theories and research supporting them, to examine the way mirror neurons potentially contribute to developing violence. Many factors will contribute to the development of violence, but the MNS could potentially explain the most basic building block for this to occur; the learning and understanding of the movements. The MNS could explain the ways the actions used to harm others are developed through learning, but perhaps not the intention and the need to …show more content…
(1996) in monkeys, and the defining finding was the property of them firing during both the execution and observation of a specific action. Mirror neurons collapse the distinction between seeing and doing. The discovery of these neurons lay the basis for the familiar phrase of “monkey see, monkey do”. Later Mukamel et al. (2010) found direct electrophysiological evidence of mirror neurons in humans. Another property of the mirror neurons is the said inability to differentiate action versus intention. Our MNS is found as a small circuit of cells in the inferior parietal cortex and premotor cortex. The inferior parietal cortex concerns language, interpretation of sensory information and perceptions of actions in facial stimuli. The premotor cortex have diverse functions which are not fully understood, but does concern the occurrence of movements and contributes to motor functions, which indicates the mirror neurons being motor neurons (Purves, et al., 2001). Premotor cortex and inferior parietal cortex are activated both when we perform an action and when observe that same action. The mirror neurons are the only brain cells we know of that seem specialised to encode the actions of others. This encoding can be used to explain what makes humans social and how social interactions and understandings work. It implies that we understand others by having neurons that provide inner imitation of the actions of other people.
All around the globe, people have attempted to find an organic, genetic basis for aggressive behavior. Several hormones and neurotransmitters, such as testosterone and seretonin, have been implicated in the "aggression quest", as well as specific localities of the human brain. My paper will serve to suggest that although many findings have shown impressive results regarding possible biological causes of violent behavior, we still do not have sufficient means to understand the neuroanatomical or biochemical basis of aggression.
...m. This many have implications for the development of early behavioral interventions aimed at triaging basic mechanisms supported by the mirror-neuron system, rather than correcting more complex behaviors.
This is not understood without understanding language: the ever-changing medium by which human beings communicate ideas. Some might argue that this ability is what differentiates us from other animals. The function of this is to be able to understand each other, whether we are trying to say, “Look out, there’s a saber-toothed cat attempting to have you for dinner,” or, “My sweet darling, I will love you until my last dying breath.” This ability gives us a better chance at surviving; therefore, it has been passed on through the generations and underwent endless permutations.
In 2000 an article was published in Science by Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It showed a study conducted by Davidson on those who had previously committed violent crimes versus those who are considered for the most part, “normal.” The results showed distinct brain activity in the more violent offenders in the frontal lobe and limbic system. This leads us to conclude that those who are violent could potentiall...
...discovery was mirror neurons, mirror neurons is something also found in primates. This neurons become active when someone watches something and when their doing the same action. This is important because it shows us that when people do something they also feel it. Not only when they see it happening but when they commit the same thing themselves. Many times we see people giving an attitude and thing about how rude their being and when we do it after a while we start to realize how mean we were being.
Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S.A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 575-582.
Myers, G. D., (2010).Psychology (9th ed.). In T. Kuehn & P. Twickler (Eds.), The Biology of Mind. (p.64). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
The research reviews and excerpt from the PBS video, "The Violent Mind", presented in this paper strongly support the evidence of a biological basis for violence in the brain.
Neihoff, D. (1999). The biology of violence: How understanding the brain, behavior and environment can break the vicious circle of aggression. New York: Free Press.
Mirror neurons have been one of the most exciting neurological discoveries in recent years. Some researchers have even gone as far as comparing the discovery of mirror neurons to DNA. Mirror neurons may be analogous to other human sensory systems and some believe that mirror neurons represent their own unique sensory system. Mirror neurons fire when a person or animal performs certain activities as well as when they watch another perform the same activity (Winerman, 2005). Basically, they allow animals and humans to imitate and possibly even learn from others. While the original studies were conducted in monkeys, recent research has extended the theory to humans and other abilities outside of basic motor movements. In this paper, research on mirror neurons in humans, language, and autism will be summarized. In addition, the limitations on this work will be discussed.
Serial killers are defined to “be driven by instinct and desire to kill.” In a study done in 2000, Dr, Richard Davidson says, “people with a large amount of aggression – in particular people who have committed aggressive murders or have a social disorder – have almost no brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex or the anterior cingulated cortex while activity in the amyglade continued perfectly. The orbital frontal cortex and the anterior congulated cortex control emotional impulses while the amyglade controls reactions to fear.” Davidson concludes his research claiming that although environment can and will affect a serial killer’s thoughts, it is a killer’s genetic makeup that inevitably creates murderous thoughts.
Text: Rosenzweig, Leiman, and Breedlove. 2nd Edition. Biological Psychology: An Introduction to Behavioral, Cognitive, and Clinical Neuroscience. Sinauer Associates, Massachusetts, 1999.
Many scientists have argued vehemently against mirror neurons both in their existence and their role in humans and monkeys. For example, an Oxford researcher argues that the mirror neuron system is not an evolutionary adaptation for action-understanding, but a byproduct of social interaction (Heyes, 2009). A neurophilosopher, Patricia Churchland, expresses concern over the role of the function of mirror neurons. She explains that intentions are more than individual neuron recordings. Intentions, she argues, are at a much more complex level of neural activity (Churchland, 2011). Taking into account the many doubts associated with the mirror neuron system, the importance of mirror neurons should not be overestimated and caution should be used. At the same, the mirror neuron research related to empathy, understanding intentions, and autism should not be overlooked.
Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” is a literary classic for many reasons. The story is complex and full of all kinds of irony. As the reader gets deeper into the story, the relationship between the main characters becomes more and more ambiguous. The story revolves around a revenge, but the reader never gets to know what happened between the two men to warrant a murder as gruesome as this. The story includes several examples of dramatic and verbal irony.
My love for neuroscience began long before my passion for neuroscience research. My favorite aspect of psychology since my initial encounter in Advanced Placement Psychology in high school is the nervous system and brain function in relation to behavior. It is fascinating how something so small serves such an extremely important and vital role in our body and behavior. The intriguing details of the brain fuel my desire to learn more about its functions. After completing the Biological Basis of Behavior and Neural System Courses at the University of Maryland, my knowledge as well as curiosity for the brain heightened.