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Mirror Neurons – Understanding more about how the Fine Arts build
empathy and accelerate learning.
Neurons in the premotor cortex and possibly elsewhere that activate both when
observing a specific action in another person (such as a smile) and also when
carrying out the same action. They are the neuronal substrate of mimicry.
The development of a smoothly controlled motor system is a major childhood
priority. Suckling is almost the first mobile act of an infant, followed by the brainoutward maturation of the arm and leg systems-eating before grasping before
walking. Because mobility is a central human characteristic, these innate
systems must develop early at the survival level without formal instruction. This
motor development includes specific currently ill understood periods during which
various key specialized brain systems generally develop (such as walking at
about 1 year, talking at about 2 years).
How infants begin their mastery of complex motor behaviors is a fascinating
developmental phenomenon. Consider a behavior that most parents observe. If
you stick out your tongue to an observant infant shortly after birth, the probability
is high that she will reciprocate the behavior.
Sticking out our tongue is an uncommon act for humans, and it requires the
activation of a complex motor neuron sequence. Our tongue is an important
muscle system that facilitates eating and speech, so we normally keep it inside
our mouth. An infant could randomly fire the appropriate motor neurons for
tongue projection, but that's not what occurs when an infant sticks out her tongue
in immediate mimicry of a parent's action. How can an infant possibly master
such a complex motor act immediately after observing it?
The remarkable mirror neuron system explains the modeling-mimicking process
that is central to much human learning. Initial studies focused on a left
hemisphere area that regulates speech production in humans (Broca's area). The
discovery of mirror neurons might provide the same powerful unifying framework
for our understanding of teaching and learning that the discovery of DNA did for
our understanding of genetics.
A smoothly coordinated motor sequence involves the typically unconscious
preparation for a movement followed by the actual movement. For example,
while my left index finger is typing the c in cat, my left little finger is getting ready
to type a and my left index finger will shortly move up to the top row to type the t.
The result is a single seamless typing action-cat.
The motor cortex plays a key role in activating such muscles. It's a narrow ear-toear band of neural tissue, with specific segments dedicated to regulating specific
groups of body muscles. The premotor area directly in front of the motor cortex
primes the next movements in a motor sequence.
Neurons in the premotor area that fire in preparation for upcoming movements
also fire when we observe someone else carry out that action. Common brain
regions thus process both the perception and production of a movement. The
infant's observation of her parent's projecting tongue fires the premotor neurons
that represent her tongue and this priming activates the related motor cortex
neurons that project her tongue out in mimicry.
We experience this mimicking phenomenon most commonly when we see
someone yawn, and then typically have to stifle our own. Because infants must
learn many movements, they don't inhibit the mimicking of movements they
observe. For them "it's monkey see, monkey do" (and it's interesting that the
initial mirror neuron research was done on monkeys).
Our mirror neurons won't fire at the mere observation of a hand or mouth-only
when it's carrying out a goal directed action. Furthermore, they will respond to a
hand but not to a tool that's grasping or moving an object (because body parts
and not tools are represented in our motor and premotor areas).
Mirror neurons may thus facilitate the preliminary motor neuron simulation,
priming, programming, and rehearsing that occurs in children, and this process
obviously enhances our eventual mastery of complex motor behaviors and our
ability to "read" the minds of others. For example, inferring the potential
movements of others is an essential skill in many games in which players try to
fake out opponents. Mirror neuron stimulation may also explain why so many
people enjoy observing the movements of virtuoso athletes, dancers, and
musicians. It allows us to represent actions mentally that we can't mimic
physically. Note the related active body language of former athletes as they
observe a game they once played.
Scientists are also exploring the relationship between mirror neuron activity and
our ability to imagine our own planned actions, be empathetic, and develop
articulate speech. Mirror neurons may thus eventually help to explain many
teaching and learning mysteries in which modeling provides children with an
effective behavioral pattern to follow; they may also help to explain disabilities
(such as autism) in which children can't "read" the minds of others.
Children denied the opportunity to observe and thus develop a motor-driven
survival skill that they would normally master with ease during its preferred
developmental period may not recover from the deprivation. A good example is
the tragic case of Genie, who was 13 when discovered hidden naked in a closet.
Her mentally disturbed parents had almost totally deprived her of normal
language and motor development. Competent therapists who then tried to undo
the damage were only marginally successful (Rymer, 1993).
Mirror neurons may well become this century's equivalent of the mid-20th-century
discovery of DNA.
See Figures 6 and 10.
See also FRONTAL LOBES, MOTOR CORTEX.
References
Meltzoff, A., & Prinz, W. (2002). The imitative mind: Development, evolution, and
brain bases. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Note especially
chapter 14 by the principal discoverers of mirror neurons, Giacomo Rizzolatti and
Vittorio Gallese, "From mirror neurons to imitation: Facts and speculations (pp.
247-266).
Rymer, R. (1993). Genie: An abused child's flight from silence. New York:
HarperCollins.