Mirror neurons

How does the mirror neuron system work?

Mirror neurons fire when we complete actions, but they also fire when we see other people complete actions

What do mirror neurons do?

Allows us to imitate actions and connect with others through accessing emotions

How does mirror neurons link to social cognition?

Mirror neurons allow us to interpret intention and emotions in others

How does mirror neurons differ in people with ASD?

• Mirror neurons don’t function the same in people with ASD

• This explains why people with ASD struggle to empathize

Describe what Rizzolatti et al found

• Discovered mirror neurons by accident whilst studying the motor cortex in monkeys

• They found that when the monkeys saw them reaching out for food, the area of the brain used when the monkeys performed the task, also lit up when watching the task

• They concluded that our brains will respond by mirroring activity in another individual

How does the mirror neuron system work in intention?

• Gallese and Goldman suggested that mirror neurons respond to intentions behind behaviour

• Suggested that we stimulate others’ actions in our motor system and experience their intentions using our mirror neurons

How does the mirror neuron system work in perspective talking?

• Mirror neurons are important in other social-cognitive functions e.g. ToM and the ability to take others perspectives

• If mirror neurons fire in response to others actions, then they may give us a neural mechanism for understanding other peoples perspectives

How does the mirror neuron system work in human evolution?

Ramachandran suggested that mirror neurons shaped human evolution. The development of mirror neurons were key to us becoming social species

‘Broken mirror’ theory of ASD

• Ramachandran and Oberman said that neurological deficits and problems with mirror neuron system exist in people with ASD

• Children with ASD or who are later diagnosed, don’t mimic adult behaviour. This is because issues with mirror systems cause problems with social communication (children don’t develop the usual abilities to read emotion and intention)

AO3 Strength

• One strength of mirror neurons is that there is research evidence that supports it

• Haker et al conducted an fMRI study for empathy. Measured brain activity while the ps were stimulated to yawn by watching a film of yawning. When they yawned, the fMRI showed activity in Broddman’s area (frontal lobe) - this area is believed to be rich in mirror neurons

• Therefore the research strengthens the validity of mirror neurons because it provides objective evidence that mirror neurons are active during empathetic responses.

AO3 Weakness

• One weakness of research into mirror neurons is that it is difficult and ethically problematic to study them directly in humans.

• Because inserting electrodes into the human brain is highly invasive and raises serious ethical concerns, researchers often rely on animal studies instead, where electrodes can be implanted more easily.

• However, although animals share some biological similarities with humans, their cognitive processes differ significantly. This means that findings from animal research may not accurately reflect how mirror neurons operate in the human brain.

• Therefore, the validity of mirror neuron theory is reduced because much of the supporting evidence is based on non‑human data, limiting how accurately the findings can be applied to human social cognition.