Mirror Neuron Systems

About this book

The discovery of mirror neurons and of a mirror neuron system in the human brain raises the interesting possibility that "mirroring" may constitute novel instances of mental simulation. It also provides the basis for unique processes such as "mindreading," the ability to make inferences about the actions of others. That an elementary process in motor cognition may be foundational to mindreading goes a long way in providing a rational basis for the study of social cognition. Social cognition is a broad discipline that encompasses many issues not yet adequately addressed by neurobiologists. In Mirror Neuron Systems: The Role of Mirroring Processes in Social Cognition, leading thinkers in this nascent field craft chapters aimed at sparking a dialogue regarding the relevance of mirroring neural systems in cognition.

Thought-provoking and cutting-edge, Mirror Neuron Systems: The Role of Mirroring Processes in Social Cognition provides the basis for extended discussion among interested readers and lays down the guidelines for future research in this fascinating and expanding field. It addresses issues common to different perspectives, raises contrary views, and creates the basis for an extended dialogue and discussion.

Written for: Social scientists, cognitive scientists, psychologists, neurobiologists, neuropsychologists, and students of social cognition

Keywords:

• Brain imaging studies
• Cognitive process
• Imitation
• MNS
• Mirroring brain mechanisms
• Motor actions
• Social behavior

Table of contents

Preface
Contributors

Part I: What Is Imitation?

1. Unifying Social Cognition
Christian Keysers and Valeria Gazzola

2. Reflections on the Mirror Neuron System: Their Evolutionary Functions Beyond Motor Representation
Lindsay M. Oberman and V.S. Ramachandran

Part II: Developmental Aspects

3. The Neurophysiology of Early Motor Resonance
François Champoux, Jean-François Lepage, Christine Désy, Mélissa Lortie and Hugo Théoret

4. The Rational Continuum of Human Imitation
Derek E. Lyons

Part III: Neural Basis

5. From Embodied Representation to Co-Regulation
Gün R. Semin and John T. Cacioppo

6. The Problem of Other Minds Is Not a Problem: Mirror Neurons and Intersubjectivity
Marco Iacoboni

7. Hierarchically Organized "Mirroring" Processes in Social Cognition: The Functional Neuroanatomy of Empathy
Jaime A. Pineda, Adrienne Moore, Hanie Elfenbein and Roy Cox

Part IV: Relationship to Cognitive Processes

8. Mirror Neurons and the Neural Exploitation Hypothesis: From Embodied Simulation to Social Cognition
Vittorio Gallese

9. From Imitation to Reciprocation and Mutual Recognition
Philippe Rochat and Claudia Passos-Ferreira

10. Automatic and Controlled Processing
Trevor T-J Chong and Jason B. Mattingley

11. Embodied Perspective on Emotion-Cognition Interactions
Piotr Winkielman, Paula M. Niedenthal and Lindsay M. Oberman

Part V: Disorders of Mirroring

12. The Role of Mirror Neuron Dysfunction in Autism
Raphael Bernier and Geraldine Dawson

13. Synaesthesia for Pain: Feeling Pain with Another
Melita J. Giummarra and John L. Bradshaw

Part VI: Alternative Views

14. Mirroring, Mindreading, and Simulation
Alvin I. Goldman

15. Does the Mirror Neuron System and Its Impairment Explain Human Imitation and Autism?
Victoria Southgate, György Gergely and Gergely Csibra

16. Neural Simulation and Social Cognition
Shaun Gallagher