CD - Mirror neurons

Question 1

what is a mirror neuron

Answer 1

a brain cell that reacts both when a particular action is performed and when it is only observed

Question 2

who discovered what mirror neurones

Answer 2

Rizolatti

Question 3

how did Rizolatti discover mirror neurones

Answer 3

• were studying electrical activity in the motor cortex of monkeys
• certain neurones become active when the monkey wasn’t doing anything but was watching another person perform an action
• use electrodes to measure the electrical activity of the mirror neurones in the motor cortex

Question 4

how do mirror neurons relate to intention

Answer 4

• mirror neurons respond to observed actions but also intentions behind behaviour
• suggest we stimulate others’ actions in our motor systems
• allow for perspective taking and to develop ToM
• if we have mirror neurons that fire in response to actions and intentions of other then we are able to experience their perspective
• allow us to interpret thoughts and feelings

Question 5

how have mirror neurons shaped evolution

Answer 5

• complex social interaction require understanding intention, emotion and perspective
• we could not live in large social groups with rules if we did not have mirror neurons
• tell us how we develop as a species

Question 6

how do mirror neurons relate to ASD

Answer 6

• if mirror neuron systems are poor it could explain why they have difficulties with social interactions
• “broken mirror”
• dysfunction in the mirror neuron system prevents developing child imitating and understanding social behaviour
• can explain difficulties to read intention and emotion in other people

Question 7

X Research conducted on monkeys

Answer 7

• Animals are much more simplistic than humans and do not have as high cognitive functions so cannot create direct comparisons between humans and monkeys
• It is also unethical to do animals studies as they cannot give informed consent
• Maranesi 2017 found specific mirror neurons in monkeys’ motor cortex fired according to position and angle of the experimenter’s gesture but this could not be seen in humans and found no link between mirror neurons and social cognition
• Reduces the ability to generalise research
• HOWEVER if you were to do research on an animal monkeys are the best as they are the most biologically similar to humans

Question 8

+ Supporting research for mirror neurons and ASD

Answer 8

Hadjikhani 2007 - some evidence to support a link between autism and dysfunctions in the mirror neurone system
- Brain scans showed a smaller average thickness of the pars opercularis in autistic people compared to neurotypical
- This area is thought to be rich in mirror neurones and involved in perspective taking
- Other research showed lower levels of activity in regions of the brain believed to be associated with high concentrations of mirror neurones

Question 9

X COUNTERPOINT opposing research for the link between mirror neurons and ASD

Answer 9

Hamilton 2013
- Conducted a systematic review of 25 studies
- Concluded that evidence was highly inconsistent and results are hard to interpret when talking about the link between mirror neurone dysfunction and autism

Question 10

what debates can we link to mirror neuron research

Answer 10

• Nature vs nurture -> the influence of mirror neurones which is nature and how that causes interaction from the environment
• Nomothetic vs idiographic -> they are taking small pieces of research and creating general laws about mirror neurones
• Biological reductionism to say every autistic person has deficits in mirror neurone

Question 11

X Measuring mirror neurons can be seen as invasive

Answer 11

• Have to implant electrodes into brains to be able to measure electrical activity which ethically cannot be done in humans so has to be done on monkeys
• But this is also unethical as the monkeys do not have a choice into whether it happens or not
• Extremely invasive process and causes long term damage to the monkey’s brains
• But could argue that benefits outweigh the costs as they conducting important research into the brain as it is unobservable so it is bound to be slightly unethical