Mirror neurons

The term mirror neurons originally referred to neurons in the ventral premotor cortex of macaque monkeys (area F5, Figure 1a) that have the particularity of responding both when the monkey performs a particular action (e.g., grasping a peanut) and when the monkey perceives another individual performing a similar action. More recently the term mirror has been extended to areas of the human brain that have similar properties. Mirror neurons may explain a large number of social cognitive functions, including the understanding and imitation of the actions of others, empathy, and language. This entry reviews the core findings on mirror neurons in monkeys and discusses their functional significance. I will also review evidence for a similar system in humans and discuss the specific role of this system in humans. Mirror Neurons in the Monkey

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