mirrorneuron

Mirror neurons are neurons that respond both when an individual executes an action and when they observe another performing the same action. They were first identified in the ventral premotor cortex (area F5) of macaque monkeys in the 1990s by Giacomo Rizzolatti and colleagues, with additional neurons found in the inferior parietal lobule. These neurons fire during action observation and action execution with similar patterns, suggesting a shared coding mechanism for understanding others' actions.

In humans, a broader mirror neuron system is proposed, involving inferior frontal gyrus (pars opercularis, often associated with Broca's area), the inferior parietal lobule, and the superior temporal sulcus. Human evidence relies on indirect measures such as functional imaging, EEG, and transcranial magnetic stimulation, along with some intracranial recordings in special cases.

Proposed roles include action understanding, imitation, and the development of social cognition and language. However, the exact contributions are debated. Some researchers argue MNS provides a direct route to inferring others' intentions, while others see it as one component among distributed networks shaped by learning and context. Critics note that correlation does not prove causation and that the presence of mirror-like activity does not necessarily imply a specific cognitive function.

Clinical relevance remains tentative; altered MNS activity has been discussed in autism research, but results are inconsistent and the field emphasizes caution about overstating causal roles.