Mirror neurons and their function in cognitively understood empathy

Corradini, Antonella; Antonietti, Alessandro

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2013.03.003

Cited by 45 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Empathy, in which mirror neurons have also been implicated (see below), is observable even during the first day of life (Singer, 2006), and infant data using eye-tracking measures suggest that the MNS develops before 12 months of age (Corradini et al , 2013). In further support, EEG-mu rhythm desynchronization has been widely used as an indicator of a functioning MNS.…”

Section: Mirror Neuron Development and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does dysfunction of the mirror neuron system contribute to symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Eisen

Lemon

Kiernan

et al. 2015

Clinical Neurophysiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Eisen et al, Mirror Neurons in ALS 2 Declaration of interest:The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. Eisen et al, Mirror Neurons in ALS 3 Abbreviations:ALS: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ADM: adductor digiti minimi; APB: abductor pollicic brevis; bvFTD: Behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia; FTD: Frontotemporal dementia; fMRI: functional MRI; MNS: Mirror neuron system; M1: Primary motor cortex; PTNs: Pyramidal tract neurons; vMPFC: Ventral medial prefrontal cortex. Eisen et al, Mirror Neurons in ALS 4 AbstractThere is growing evidence that mirror neurons, initially discovered over two decades ago in the monkey, are present in the human brain. In the monkey, mirror neurons characteristically fire not only when it is performing an action, such as grasping an object, but also when observing a similar action performed by another agent (human or monkey). In this review we discuss the origin, cortical distribution and possible functions of mirror neurons as a background to exploring their potential relevance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We have recently proposed that ALS (and the related condition of frontotemporal dementia) may be viewed as a failure of interlinked functional complexes having their origins in key evolutionary adaptations. The mirror neuron system is considered by many to be the basis of primates' social cognition, with a clear evolutionary advantage. Impaired empathy and motor control has been related to a defective mirror neuron system. In ALS, the mirror neuron system might be implicated in empathy, the split-hand syndrome, gait, speech, and related languagegesture impairments.Eisen et al, Mirror Neurons in ALS 5

show abstract

Section: Mirror Neuron Development and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does dysfunction of the mirror neuron system contribute to symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Eisen

Lemon

Kiernan

et al. 2015

Clinical Neurophysiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Rizzolatti, Fogassi, and Gallese 2001. More recent accounts go further than that and try to understand other aspects of empathy in terms of mirror neurons as well (e. g., Corradini and Antonietti 2013). In my view, such attempts are still rather hypothetical and, indeed, discussed controversially in the literature (e. g., Baird, Scheffer, and Wilson 2011;Hickok 2014).…”

Section: Concepts: Empathy and Psychopathymentioning

confidence: 88%

How Empathy Became a Brain Function

Schleim¹

2015

PTSc

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A Neurophilosophical Case Study 1Empathy is a topic of great relevance in current psychology, neuroscience, and related disciplines. Scholars recently emphasized the possible role of a lack of empathy in antisocial behavior associated with psychopathy. At the beginning of this paper, common conceptions of empathy, particularly cognitive and emotional empathy, as well as psychopathy are summarized. Subsequently, recent attempts to demonstrate empathic engagement in neuro-imaging experiments are analyzed with respect to new operational definitions of empathy proposed by neuroscientists. This demonstrates how concepts and experimental settings may change when empathy becomes understood as a brain function. A central critique is related to experimentally establishing the presence of not just any emotion, but emotional isomorphy between a putatively empathic witness and another person in an emotion-inducing situation, such as required by emotional empathy. Finally, a recent experiment suggesting that psychopaths can be empathic if they are instructed to do so is discussed in more detail. Its interpretation has significant relevance for forensic and legal practice, such as treatment, confinement, and punishment decisions. The critical analysis developed here concludes that such practical applications may be premature.

show abstract

“…Recent research suggests that we may understand the thoughts, emotions, and sensations of others by simulating them in ourselves as if we were experiencing similar mental states, emotions, or sensations (Buccino & Amore, 2008;Corradini & Antonietti, 2013;Iacoboni, 2008). Research has indicated that the area of the brain that is normally activated by one's own emotion is also active when one looks at another individual feeling the same sensation or emotion (Corradini & Antonietti, 2013).…”

Section: Mirror Neuron Systemmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Research has indicated that the area of the brain that is normally activated by one's own emotion is also active when one looks at another individual feeling the same sensation or emotion (Corradini & Antonietti, 2013). For example, Hutchison, Davis, Lozano, Tasker, and Dostrovsky (1999) neurons that are triggered in response to observing the actions or emotions of others "mirror neurons."…”

Section: Mirror Neuron Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%