Mirror Neuron Systems - The Role of Mirroring Processes in Social Cognition

Preface

Contents

Contributors

Part 1: What Is Imitation?

Unifying Social Cognition

1 Shared Representations for Actions

1.4 Primates

1.1.1 STS

1.1.2 PF

1.1.3 F5

1.1 Humans

1.2.1 The Core Human Mirror System

1.2.2 Shared Voxels and Shared Circuits

1.2.3 Audiovisual Shared Circuits

1.2.4 Congruent Selectivity

1.2.5 Goal Matching

1.2.6 MNS and Empathy

1.2.7 Are Shared Circuits Limited to the Premotor and Parietal Lobe?

1.2.8 Single Subject Analysis Using Unsmoothed Data Instead of Conventional Group Analysis Reveal the Consistency of Shared Voxels Within and Outside the Premotor and Posterior Parietal Cortex

1.2 Conclusions

2 Sensations

2.1 Touch

2.2 Pain

3 Emotions

3.1 Sharing the Emotional State and Shared Voxels in the Insula/Frontal Operculum

3.2 Sharing the Facial Expression of Other Individuals in the Motor MNS

3.3 Facial Expressions and Empathy and Autism

3.4 Summary

4 Shared Circuits for Actions, Sensations, and Emotions

5 Demystifying Shared Circuits Through a Hebbian Perspective

6 Shared Circuits and Communication

7 Simulation and Theory of Mind - A Hypothesis

8 Overall Conclusions

References

Reflections on the Mirror Neuron System: Their Evolutionary Functions Beyond Motor Representation

1 The Discovery

2 Possible Functions of the Mirror Neuron System

2.1 Action Understanding

2.2 Imitation

2.3 Language

2.4 Empathy and Theory of Mind

2.5 Self Representation

3 What Is a Mirror Neuron?: Beyond Semantics

4 How Do Mirror Neurons Develop?

5 The Mirror Neuron System as a Target for Therapeutic Interventions

6 Conclusions

References

Part 2: Developmental Aspects

The Neurophysiology of Early Motor Resonance

1 Introduction

2 The Emergence of an Observation-Execution Matching System: Grasping from Birth?

2.1 Finger/Hand Movement Imitation in Newborns

2.2 Facial and Orofacial Gestures Imitation in the Newborn

2.3 Imitation of Vocal Gestures in Newborns

2.4 Neonatal Imitation: A Reflex-Like Phenomenon?

2.5 Methodological Limitations

3 Neurophysiological Evidence of Early Emergence

3.1 Subdural Recordings

3.2 Electrophysiological Data

3.3 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

3.4 Near Infrared Spectroscopy

4 The Flexible Nature of the MNS

5 Conclusions

References

The Rational Continuum of Human Imitation

1 The Rational Continuum of Human Imitation

2 Two Poles of an Imitation Dichotomy? Selective Imitation and Overimitation

2.1 Selective Imitation

2.2 Overimitation

2.3 Theories of Overimitation

3 Selective Imitation and the Hierarchical Organization of Action

4 Picking the Right Level of Imitative Selectivity

5 Computing Informational Significance

5.1 Intentional Cues

5.2 Domain Cues: What’s Special About Tools?

6 Overimitation Revisited

7 Conclusions

References

Part 3: Neural Basis

From Embodied Representation to Co-regulation

1 Introduction

2 The Representation Paradigm

3 From the Passive Observer to Reception, Reproduction, and Representation

4 Co-regulation - The Social-Cognition Model

5 Conclusions

References

The Problem of Other Minds Is Not a Problem: Mirror Neurons and Intersubjectivity

1 Introduction

2 The Problem of Other Minds

3 Mirror Neurons and Hidden Actions

4 Mirror Neurons and Intentions

5 The Tea Party Experiment

6 Grasping Intentions and Empathy

7 Conclusions

References

Hierarchically Organized Mirroring Processes in Social Cognition: The Functional Neuroanatomy of Empathy

1 Introduction

2 Characteristics of Empathy

2.1 Phylogenetic Continuity

2.2 Foundational Mechanisms

2.3 Interdependencies and Dissociability

3 Functional Neuroanatomy of Empathy

3.1 Interoception (Insular and Cingulate Cortices)

3.2 Exteroception (Somatosensory Cortex)

3.3 Amygdala

3.4 Mirror Neuron System

4 Other Dimensions of Empathy

4.1 Self-Other

4.2 Mnemonic Processes

4.3 Hemispheric Asymmetries

5 Conclusions

References

Part 4: Relationship to Cognitive Processes

Mirror Neurons and the Neural Exploitation Hypothesis: From Embodied Simulation to Social Cognition

1 Introduction

2 Mirror Neurons

3 Mirroring Mechanisms in Humans

4 The Development of Mirroring Mechanisms and Social Identification

5 Embodied Simulation and Intentional Attunement

6 The MNS and Its Relevance in the Evolution of Social Cognition

7 A ‘Neurophenomenological’ Account of Language: Action, Experience, and Their Expression

8 Embodied Simulation and Language: Simulation at the Vehicle Level

9 Embodied Simulation and Language: Simulation at the Content Level

10 The ‘Neural Exploitation Hypothesis’

11 Conclusions

References

From Imitation to Reciprocation and Mutual Recognition

1 Introduction

2 Imitation as Source of Innovation

3 Reciprocation

4 Mutual Recognition

5 From Basic Mirroring to Reciprocation and Social Expectations

6 From Secondary to Tertiary Inter-Subjectivity

7 Emergence of an Ethical Stance

8 Conclusions: Human Sociality Buds in Imitation But Blossoms in Reciprocation

References

Automatic and Controlled Processing within the Mirror Neuron System

1 Introduction

2 Automatic Processing Within the Human Mirror System

2.1 Behavioral Studies

2.2 Electrophysiological and Neuroimaging Studies

3 Controlled Processing in Macaque Mirror Neurons

4 Controlled Processing Within the Human Mirror System

4.1 Behavioral Studies

4.2 Electrophysiological and Neuroimaging Studies

5 Implications of Controlled Processing on the Human Mirror System

5.1 The Effect of Prior Exposure and Strategy on the Mirror System

5.2 Attentional Modulation of the Mirror System

6 Conclusions

References

Embodied Perspective on Emotion-Cognition Interactions

1 Introduction

2 Representing Emotion: Amodal and Modal Accounts

3 Mechanisms of Embodiment and Simulation

4 Embodying Emotion

5 Perceiving Emotional Information

5.1 Peripheral Mechanisms

5.2 Central Mechanisms

6 Emotional Understanding and Empathy

7 Social Functioning

7.1 Typical Individuals

7.2 Individuals with Autism

8 Influence of Emotion on Complex Behavior

9 Acquiring and Expressing Values, Preferences, and Attitudes

9.1 Attitude Formation

9.2 Expression of Attitudes

9.3 Flexible Embodiment

10 Linguistically Represented Emotion Knowledge

10.1 Emotion Concepts

10.2 Emotional Language

11 Open Issues

References

Part 5: Disorders of Mirroring

The Role of Mirror Neuron Dysfunction in Autism

1 Introduction

2 Impairments of Social Cognition in Autism

2.1 Imitation

2.2 Empathy

2.3 Theory of Mind

3 Mirror Neurons and Autism

4 A Mirror Neuron Theory of Autism

5 Conclusion

References

Synaesthesia for Pain: Feeling Pain with Another

1 Introduction

2 Mirror Neuron Systems

2.1 Action Understanding

2.2 Communication and Speech Perception

2.3 Empathy

3 Behavioral Mimicry and Emotional Contagion

3.1 Clinical Imitative Behavior

3.2 Behavioral Mimicry and Emotional Contagion

4 Empathic Perception of Another’s Painful Experience

4.1 Synaesthetic Experience: Case Summaries

4.1.1 Synaesthesia for Touch

4.1.2 Synaesthesia for Pain

Mirror Pain in Association with Hyperalgesia

Mirror Pain in the Phantom Limb Following Amputation

Mirror Pain in the Stumps Following Amputation

Mirror Pain Following Traumatic Childbirth

5 Mechanisms Underlying Synaesthesia for Pain

5.1 Mirror Neurons and Empathy for Pain

5.1.1 Autonomic Nervous System and Visceral Mechanisms

5.2 Sensitization and Hypervigilance to Pain

5.2.1 Sensitization to Pain

5.2.2 Attention and Hypervigilance to Pain Cues

6 Summary

References

Part 6: Alternative Views

Mirroring, Mindreading, and Simulation

1 Introduction

2 Definitional Issues

3 Four Theses about Mirroring Processes and Mindreading

4 Mirroring and Intention Attribution

5 Mirror-Based Attribution of Emotion

6 Pain and Touch

7 The Limits of Mirror-Based Mindreading

8 High-Level Simulation-Based Mindreading

9 Interactions between Cortical Midline Structures and Mirror Systems?

10 Conclusions

References

Does the Mirror Neuron System and Its Impairment Explain Human Imitation and Autism?

1 The ‘Dysfunctional Mirror Neuron System’ Hypothesis of Autism

2 Arguments Against the ‘Broken Mirror’ Hypothesis

2.1 Action Understanding Is Not Impaired in Autism

2.2 Imitative Abilities Are Not Impaired in ASD

2.3 The Mirror Neuron System and Human Imitation

2.3.1 Action Substitution and Efficiency

2.3.2 Fidelity of Imitation

2.3.3 Goal-Directed Imitation

3 An Alternative Hypothesis for the Connection Between ASD and Imitation

3.1 Imitation and Communication

3.2 Understanding Communicative Intent Is Impaired in Autism

3.3 The Mirror Neuron System in Autism

4 Conclusions

References

Neural Simulation and Social Cognition

1 Introduction

2 Explicit and Implicit Versions of Simulation Theory

3 Why Mirror Processes Are Not Simulations

4 An Alternative Interpretation

References

Index