Define mirror neurons. briefly explain how they were discovered and what researchers have linked them to.

Mirror neurons are activated by performing an action or seeing another perform the action. They were found by chance during experiments with monkeys, when researchers discovered that the same neurons that fired while performing a behavior also fired while observing the behavior. Mirror neurons have been linked to motor skill development, imitating another's behavior, feeling empathy for another, understanding or comprehending social behavior, and language development. Answer for E2020

Mirror neurons are various types of visuospatial neurons which indicates basically about the human social interaction. It also responds to the action that we observe in others.

Further Explanation:

Mirror neurons are those neurons that gets discharge when individual shows a motor act as well as when they observe another individual performing the similar motor act.

Discovery:

They were discovered in monkey’s brain. The brain activity similar to that of mirror neurons has been observed in the parts like premotor cortex, and the primary somatosensory cortex in human.

A theory known as Hebbian theory was postulated to explain about the mirror neuron. According to the Hebbian theory, “the cells that fires together wires together”. The theory also tries to explain the “association learning” which states that there is enhanced synaptic strength between the cells when there is simultaneous activation of those cells.

Mirror neurons plays role in action recognition, responding to sound of action, understanding intention, exhibiting emotions and empathy etc.

Learn more:

1. Learn more about heart

2. Learn more about blood

3. Learn more about blood cells

Answer Details:

Grade: College  Biology

Subject: Biology

Chapter: Neurons

Keywords:

Neurons, mirror neurons, cells, visuospatial neuron, motor act, brain, premotor cortex, primary somatosensory, Hebbian theory, association learning, synaptic strength.

1.the evidene of the reaction

2.yes

3.yes