The connection between mirror neurons and ASD provides an example of how an understanding of the mirror neuron system can be used to better understand empathy in individuals who are especially impacted.
Contention in the Field
A large portion of the scientific community is animated by the recent mirror neuron findings and continue to research these neurons extensively, however, some dispute the proposed implications of these neurons, or even their existence all together.
Luca Turella, a cognitive scientist contends PET and fMRI studies that claim analogous mirror neuron system in humans, such as the studies discussed previously. He argues that there is weak evidence suggesting that the dual functions demonstrated in an ensemble (previously …show more content…
Many of his contentions into the field are centered on the action understanding function of mirror neurons. He contends that the evidence does not suggest that motor mirror neuron activation leads to the understanding of an other’s action but on the contrary, it is the understanding of an action that results in the neuronal activity. This flips the script on self-other action understanding. Hickok contends that if mirror neurons were the basis of action understanding then it would be inconsistent that we can understand the actions of others that we cannot do ourselves, for example, we can understand the flying actions of a bird even though humans cannot …show more content…
In this case, biting activates motor neurons because we as humans can bite, however, barking does not cross species and therefore could not be mapped within the human observer. However, Rizzolatti claims that there are higher inferential processes that initiate to allow for the understanding of things outside of our motor repertoire (Rizzolatti & Sinigaglia, 0000). While it is legitimate that we may not truly understand experiences that we cannot relate to, however, our higher level cognitive processing helps us to fill in the gaps in our direct understanding allowing for the perception of full understanding. The mirror system may act as a reflex that provides a basic point of reference based on the stimulus input provided by the experience of the other. Then, layered onto that automatic mirror response is always a cognitive processing component that allows for extra interpretation and personal contextualization. If action understanding is based in mirror systems, it also surely works in conjunction with other processing. Very few functions or operations in the brain happen on an isolated or independent circuit, but rather as an interconnected multipath interweaving of individual parts. Mirror
Contention in the Field
A large portion of the scientific community is animated by the recent mirror neuron findings and continue to research these neurons extensively, however, some dispute the proposed implications of these neurons, or even their existence all together.
Luca Turella, a cognitive scientist contends PET and fMRI studies that claim analogous mirror neuron system in humans, such as the studies discussed previously. He argues that there is weak evidence suggesting that the dual functions demonstrated in an ensemble (previously …show more content…
Many of his contentions into the field are centered on the action understanding function of mirror neurons. He contends that the evidence does not suggest that motor mirror neuron activation leads to the understanding of an other’s action but on the contrary, it is the understanding of an action that results in the neuronal activity. This flips the script on self-other action understanding. Hickok contends that if mirror neurons were the basis of action understanding then it would be inconsistent that we can understand the actions of others that we cannot do ourselves, for example, we can understand the flying actions of a bird even though humans cannot …show more content…
In this case, biting activates motor neurons because we as humans can bite, however, barking does not cross species and therefore could not be mapped within the human observer. However, Rizzolatti claims that there are higher inferential processes that initiate to allow for the understanding of things outside of our motor repertoire (Rizzolatti & Sinigaglia, 0000). While it is legitimate that we may not truly understand experiences that we cannot relate to, however, our higher level cognitive processing helps us to fill in the gaps in our direct understanding allowing for the perception of full understanding. The mirror system may act as a reflex that provides a basic point of reference based on the stimulus input provided by the experience of the other. Then, layered onto that automatic mirror response is always a cognitive processing component that allows for extra interpretation and personal contextualization. If action understanding is based in mirror systems, it also surely works in conjunction with other processing. Very few functions or operations in the brain happen on an isolated or independent circuit, but rather as an interconnected multipath interweaving of individual parts. Mirror