All About Mirror Neurons
The Nervous System and Neurons
The nervous system is the body’s command center, and it’s made up of all the nerve cells in your body. It is responsible for a variety of functions, such as helping us communicate with the outside world and controlling mechanisms inside of the body. It does this through taking in outside information and processing it, eventually triggering a reaction. For example, the nervous system is the reason that you reflexively pull your hand back when you touch a hot stovetop. It also regulates important and complicated functions like thoughts and memory.
The nervous system contains millions of nerve cells, or neurons. Each neuron has a cell body, and branch-like extensions called dendrites. Dendrites act as antennae, receiving the signals from the outside world and other neurons. These signals are electrical impulses, and they travel down the axon, which is a long extension. Eventually, the signal reaches the end of the axon, also called the axon terminal, where it can be sent to other neurons.
There are three different types of neurons, each with a different job. Sensory neurons take information from your five senses and transport them to the brain. Motor neurons take these signals to your muscles, which helps you move. Interneurons communicate between motor and sensory neurons, and they play a role in how you remember, think, and learn.
The nervous system is divided into two parts, the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is all of the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, and all of the other nerves are parts of the peripheral nervous system, which takes in sensory information.
What are Mirror Neurons and How Do They Work?
Have you ever felt a pang of embarrassment when you watched someone trip on a stage, or instinctively recoiled when you saw someone get hit with a tennis ball? This phenomenon may be because of mirror neurons.
Mirror neurons are a specialized type of neuron that fires both when someone does an activity and when they observe that activity. Basically, they make no distinction between seeing and doing. That’s why they’re called mirror neurons; because they “mirror” the activity of someone else.
Mirror neurons can be found within two main places in the brain: The premotor cortex, which is involved in planning and executing movements, and the parietal lobe, which integrates sensory information.
The Discovery of Mirror Neurons
Mirror neurons were first discovered in the early 1990’s, by a team of researchers at the University of Parma, Italy, led by Giacomo Rizzolatti. They were studying motor control in macaque monkeys by placing electrodes in their brains, and they noticed that a neuron that fired when the monkey reached for a piece of food also fired when the monkey simply observed a researcher reaching for the same food.
These neurons were first described in 1992, and later, in 1996, they were named “mirror neurons”. This finding was significant because it suggested a direct link between observing an action and executing it, a mechanism that was later theorized to play a role in several other functions and mental processes.
Why do Mirror Neurons Matter?
Mirror neurons have been theorized to influence several of our cognitive processes, such as empathy. Because they fire when you observe someone else doing an action, it may make it easier for you to understand what they are going through. Recent research suggests that we may understand the thoughts and emotions of someone else if we have those same thoughts and emotions, and mirror neurons essentially match your brain state with someone else’s, providing an automatic share of their experiences. Furthermore, some research suggests that mirror neurons may also serve as a first layer and understanding autism spectrum disorder and the adverse effects of traumatic events, although no clear connection has been made. Mirror neurons also help us better understand how we learn. Many researchers suggest that they play a role in associative learning, forming associations that influence behavior.
Overall, mirror neurons are an essential part of our nervous system and are vital for understanding various mental processes. While research is ongoing, these neurons offer important insights into empathy, imitation, and social behavior.
Bibliography
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