tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15453937.post8403615725406774663..comments2024-01-10T17:36:15.040-07:00Comments on The Lippard Blog: Mirror neurons and the study of scienceLippardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16826768452963498005noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15453937.post-4711269694370885042009-10-11T15:57:40.527-07:002009-10-11T15:57:40.527-07:00My two cents on Mirror Neurons:
Gallese et al.(19...My two cents on Mirror Neurons:<br /><br />Gallese et al.(1996) found neurons in area F5 in the monkey cortex (a premotor area coding for hand and mouth) firing when both the action was observed, and when the action was made.<br /><br />17% of neurons examined in the F5 area were termed ‘mirror neurons’(MN).<br /><br />MNs required interaction between object and agent (hand or mouth), not just object or agent.<br />Matching observation of meaningful action and execution. <br /><br />Responses to objects or tools to imitate action was weak or non-existent.<br /><br />Mirror neurons proposed as internal representation-understanding consequences of action, so i guess maybe as Brad said "some sort of short term memory from sensory input"<br /><br />Umilta et al. (2001).<br />Conditions were: <br />Full Vision - reach hand to pick up block.<br />Blocked vision – show the monkey the block then pull screen to block view of object then reach with hand to object.<br />Mimed Full Vision nothing there and reach towards nothing with hand.<br />Mimed Blocked Vision- show the monkey nothing there then pull screen and reach.<br /><br />Half of the "MNs" found fired to both full vision and blocked vision but not the others. authors propose this infers knowledge and consequences of the action (action recognition).<br />"The mirror system transforms visual information into knowledge"<br /><br />Baldissera et al. found that in humans, the spinal cord contained an inhibitory mechanism preventing the execution of an observed action- so one can observe an action and react to it without externally making the movement (so when someone does an action, your premotor cortex also does the same neural firing but you dont act it out).<br />This was thought to be an analogue of the monkey studies.<br /><br /><br />Jackson et al. (2005)<br /><br />in humans: activation in the ACC and insula during the perception and assessment of someone else’s pain (areas of STS- superior temporal sulcus, also has connections with amygdala).These areas are the same for when you yourself experience pain. <br /><br /><br />Dapretto et al. (2006).<br /><br />high-functioning children with autism and matched controls underwent fMRI while imitating and observing emotional expressions.<br /><br />both groups performed the tasks equally well, children with autism showed no "mirror neuron activity" in the inferior frontal gyrus (pars opercularis- near insula)compared to controls. Activity in this area was inversely related to symptom severity in the social domain.<br /><br />lack of MNS activity in ASD children may indicate that part of the problem of social deficits is due to dysfunctions in this system<br /><br /><br />so its gone from monkeys viewing stuff and creating an "internal representation" to "wow in humans fMRI shows activation of the SAME areas both viewing and performing a task....this must show mirror neuron circuits".<br /><br />an interesting jump but one that is kinda plausible..... obviously nothing to really put all your money on but an area to investigate with further research....<br />again does this show "MN systems"??? probably....all it means though is that we use the same neural networks for both perceiving and doing stuff.....this makes sense b/c of the need for the brain to be an efficient processor.....mattyyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07619694088945696508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15453937.post-22837371805889452962009-09-29T13:41:59.719-07:002009-09-29T13:41:59.719-07:00As Jane mentions, everyone is aware of imitative b...As Jane mentions, everyone is aware of imitative behaviors. Mirror neurons seems like a way to market biological explanations for our human experiences.<br /><br />Based on your review, it does seem that Iacoboni's main idea is to popularize his research. I don't think he really expects to find a single neuron with new distinct organelles that contrast with other typical neurons.<br /><br />If I 'member right, a neurons main function is to send and receive a small number of ions, so unless those engrams are firing around invisibly I'm not sure what they hope to discover by proposing the term mirror neuron or mirror neuron system. It reminds me a bit of the hyped up evolutionary psychology inferences.<br /><br />Since modeling or empathizing with someone involves input from all senses, it would follow that imitation forms from various qualia from multiple senses.<br /><br />Then what would be the mirror neuron? The senses would form some sort of short term memory from sensory input, and activate behaviors in an attempt to represent outwardly what was perceived. Then would the mirror neuron be the decision to represent the behavior versus not represent the behavior?<br /><br />Ian' may find that he is seeking to translate learning and attention theories into neurology.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07817607645978561961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15453937.post-45498367010296600492009-09-23T05:17:47.552-07:002009-09-23T05:17:47.552-07:00Thanks for your clear discussion of the critique o...Thanks for your clear discussion of the critique of MNs. As a theatre director and teacher, the concept of such brain activity is exciting and explains much of what we have been observing over the years. I have no doubt that such things exist, perhaps this research will take another turn, but scientists are discovering what actors have know for years.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16472739656740642112noreply@blogger.com