Mirror Neurons Case

Mirror Neurons

Danielle Lazarus

Norco College

Introduction

Giacomo Rizzolatti, through his work enabled the description of the mirror neurons in humans. Mirror neurons fire when a primate performs an action or when the primate watches another execute an action. Through the mirror neurons, the observer has a copy of the action in their brain. This allows the observer to understand the doer's actions. A fundamental difference exists between mirror neurons and motor neurons. Motor neurons fire when the individual moves muscle. This firing is independent if the action performed. The mirror neurons fire in response to the purpose of the action.

Mirror neurons were first described in monkeys and include visuomotor neurons, which form part of the canonical neurons. In humans the studying the mirror neurons is only possible to a certain extent. The scientists only study those suffering from autism and those suffering from physical brain injuries. In the laboratory, patients with injury on the frontal lobe exhibit imitative dyspraxia. This is despite them possessing adequate motor control of their limbs. This is consistent to the understanding that imitation is only possible when the action representation is at a "supramodal level." Individuals with injury to the frontal lobe lack the ability to develop supramodals.

Functions of mirror neurons

During the presentation of the findings, the professor treated the audience to a video showing monkeys in an experiment setting. The monkeys watch simple grasping tasks performed by a demonstrator. The mirror neurons of the monkeys fire whenever the demonstrator grasps an object. When the demonstrator pretends to grasp an object, the mirror neurons do not fire. In humans, the professor has been studying autistic children. Autistic people can understand through reasoning out the emotions and responses of others. They lack mirror neuron responses to their actions and emotions. The autistic individual has no memory backup for responses and emotions he or she has to think actively to express a response or emotion (Rizzolatti, & Craighero, 2004).

Mirror neurons are a recent discovery and much remains unexplored about the role of the mirror neurons in communication. The mirror neurons may have led to the development of language and ultimately the modern civilization. The mirror neurons allow people to understand each other implicitly. Because the individuals can understand each other on this level, all they had to do is invent simple words to describe their actions. Working on non-human primates, scientists are discovering the neural pathways by which such actions may be developed. There are several specialized neurons in the Superior Temporal Sulcus (STS). These