Mirror Neurons

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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.

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