Mirror neurons

Mirror neurons AO1

• Mirror neurons are a type of neuron that fire when we observe the motor action of others & when we perform motor actions ourselves

• They were first discovered in the premotor cortex of macaque monkeys by Rizzolatti et al.

• In humans, mirror neurons are localized to inferior frontal gyrus

• Play a crucial role in social cognition as help us to form social networks & bond with each other, which aids survival

• Gallese & Goldman suggested that we stimulate other’s actions in our motor system & experience their intentions using our mirror neurons

• Help us experience & understand other people’s perspectives, allowing us to interpret what others are thinking & feeling (TOM)

• Ramachandran broken mirror theory of ASD - dysfunction in mirror neurons leads to social deficits associated with ASD

• Dapretto et al used fMRI to show that children with autism had reduced activity in brain areas associated with mirror neurons (eg inferior frontal gyrus) when observing or imitating facial expressi

Strengths AO3

• P - research support

• E - Mouras et al asked male ppts to watch a fishing documentary, Mr Bean or pornography. They found that sexual arousal coincided with increased levels of activity in areas of the brain rich in motor neurons as ppts watched porn (measured using fMRI) Suggests that they took on the perspective of porn actors & experienced their emotions using mirror neurons. fMRI scans produce objective, scientific data & the findings are less vulnerable to researcher bias compared to subjective behavioural observations. This strengthens the scientific credibility of the mirror neuron explanation by suggesting there is a measurable neurological basis for understanding others’ actions.

• T - Therefore, this research provides biological support for the role of mirror neurons in social cognition, increasing the validity of mirror neurons

Limitations AO3

• P - biologically reductionist

• E - it takes a complex phenomenon, such as social cognition (eg empathy & imitation) and reduces it down to a simple explanation of mirror neurons, only looking at internal biological causes. Research has shown that social cognition is influenced by a wide range of factors, including cognitive processes, environmental experiences and genetic predispositions. By focusing primarily on the role of mirror neurons, the explanation may oversimplify autism, which is now recognised as a complex spectrum with significant variation between individuals. For example, some people with autism demonstrate intact imitation skills yet still experience social difficulties, suggesting that mirror neuron dysfunction cannot fully account for autistic traits.

• T - This reductionism weakens the theory’s explanatory power, as a single biological mechanism is unlikely to capture the full complexity of social development. A more holistic approach, such as the interactionist perspective, may provide a more sophisticated explanation by considering how biological factors interact with cognitive and environmental influences. Therefore, mirror neurons are better viewed as one contributing factor rather than a complete explanation, limiting the overall validity of the theory.

• P - lack of empirical evidence

• E - Mirror neurons were originally discovered in monkeys using invasive single-cell recordings, a method that cannot ethically be used on humans. As a result, human research relies on indirect techniques such as fMRI and EEG, which measure overall brain activity rather than individual neurons. This raises questions if mirror neurons even exist at all. Furthermore, much of the supporting research is correlational. Studies may show that certain brain areas activate when individuals observe or imitate actions, but this does not prove that mirror neurons cause social understanding or autistic traits.

• T - the lack of empirical evidence & cause & effect relationship reduces mirror neuron’s validity, therefore lacking scientific credibility as a theory of autism & social cognition.

• P - mixed & inconsistent evidence

• E - While some studies, such as Dapretto et al found reduced activation in brain areas associated with the mirror neuron system in children with autism, other researchers have failed to replicate these findings. For example, other researchers reviewed the available literature and concluded that there is little convincing evidence that a dysfunctional mirror neuron system is the primary cause of autism. This inconsistency reduces the reliability of the explanation because a scientifically robust theory should produce findings that can be replicated across studies. It also suggests that social difficulties in autism may be better explained by alternative accounts, such as TOM.

• T - contradictory evidence reduces the mirror neuron explanation’s validity, indicating that mirror neurons are unlikely to provide a complete or standalone account of autism.

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