Mirror Neuron Systems (eBook)

The Role of Mirroring Processes in Social Cognition

Jaime A. Pineda (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: PDF

2009
XIV, 376 Seiten
Humana Press (Verlag)
9781597454797 (ISBN)

Infos

The aim of this book is to bring together social scientists, cognitive scientists, psychologists, neuroscientists, neuropsychologists and others to promote a dialogue about the variety of processes involved in social cognition, as well as the relevance of mirroring neural systems to those processes. Social cognition is a broad discipline that encompasses many issues not yet adequately addressed by neurobiologists. Yet, it is a strong belief that framing these issues in terms of the neural basis of social cognition, especially within an evolutionary perspective, can be a very fruitful strategy. This book includes some of the leading thinkers in the nascent field of mirroring processes and reflects the authors' attempts to till common ground from a variety of perspectives. The book raises contrary views and addresses some of the most vexing yet core questions in the field - providing the basis for extended discussion among interested readers and laying down guidelines for future research. It has been argued that interaction with members of one's own social group enhances cognitive development in primates and especially humans (Barrett & Henzi, 2005). Byrne and Whiten (1988), Donald (1991), and others have speculated that abilities such as cooperation, deception, and imitation led to increasingly complex social interactions among primates resulting in a tremendous expansion of the cerebral cortex. The evolutionary significance of an imitation capability in primates is matched by its ontological consequences.

Inhalt

Preface 5
Contents 9
Contributors 11
Part 1: What Is Imitation? 15
Unifying Social Cognition 16
1 Shared Representations for Actions 17
1.4 Primates 17
1.1.1 STS 17
1.1.2 PF 18
1.1.3 F5 19
1.1 Humans 20
1.2.1 The Core Human Mirror System 21
1.2.2 Shared Voxels and Shared Circuits 22
1.2.3 Audiovisual Shared Circuits 23
1.2.4 Congruent Selectivity 23
1.2.5 Goal Matching 24
1.2.6 MNS and Empathy 26
1.2.7 Are Shared Circuits Limited to the Premotor and Parietal Lobe? 27
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 28
1.2 Conclusions 28
2 Sensations 29
2.1 Touch 29
2.2 Pain 30
3 Emotions 32
3.1 Sharing the Emotional State and Shared Voxels in the Insula/Frontal Operculum 32
3.2 Sharing the Facial Expression of Other Individuals in the Motor MNS 34
3.3 Facial Expressions and Empathy and Autism 35
3.4 Summary 36
4 Shared Circuits for Actions, Sensations, and Emotions 36
5 Demystifying Shared Circuits Through a Hebbian Perspective 39
6 Shared Circuits and Communication 41
7 Simulation and Theory of Mind - A Hypothesis 42
8 Overall Conclusions 45
References 45
Reflections on the Mirror Neuron System: Their Evolutionary Functions Beyond Motor Representation 51
1 The Discovery 51
2 Possible Functions of the Mirror Neuron System 54
2.1 Action Understanding 54
2.2 Imitation 55
2.3 Language 57
2.4 Empathy and Theory of Mind 60
2.5 Self Representation 61
3 What Is a Mirror Neuron?: Beyond Semantics 62
4 How Do Mirror Neurons Develop? 64
5 The Mirror Neuron System as a Target for Therapeutic Interventions 66
6 Conclusions 68
References 68
Part 2: Developmental Aspects 72
The Neurophysiology of Early Motor Resonance 73
1 Introduction 73
2 The Emergence of an Observation-Execution Matching System: Grasping from Birth? 74
2.1 Finger/Hand Movement Imitation in Newborns 74
2.2 Facial and Orofacial Gestures Imitation in the Newborn 75
2.3 Imitation of Vocal Gestures in Newborns 75
2.4 Neonatal Imitation: A Reflex-Like Phenomenon? 75
2.5 Methodological Limitations 76
3 Neurophysiological Evidence of Early Emergence 76
3.1 Subdural Recordings 77
3.2 Electrophysiological Data 78
3.3 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) 79
3.4 Near Infrared Spectroscopy 79
4 The Flexible Nature of the MNS 80
5 Conclusions 82
References 83
The Rational Continuum of Human Imitation 87
1 The Rational Continuum of Human Imitation 87
2 Two Poles of an Imitation Dichotomy? Selective Imitation and Overimitation 90
2.1 Selective Imitation 91
2.2 Overimitation 93
2.3 Theories of Overimitation 95
3 Selective Imitation and the Hierarchical Organization of Action 96
4 Picking the Right Level of Imitative Selectivity 100
5 Computing Informational Significance 103
5.1 Intentional Cues 103
5.2 Domain Cues: What’s Special About Tools? 105
6 Overimitation Revisited 108
7 Conclusions 110
References 111
Part 3: Neural Basis 114
From Embodied Representation to Co-regulation 115
1 Introduction 115
2 The Representation Paradigm 116
3 From the Passive Observer to Reception, Reproduction, and Representation 118
4 Co-regulation - The Social-Cognition Model 121
5 Conclusions 123
References 125
The Problem of Other Minds Is Not a Problem: Mirror Neurons and Intersubjectivity 129
1 Introduction 129
2 The Problem of Other Minds 130
3 Mirror Neurons and Hidden Actions 131
4 Mirror Neurons and Intentions 133
5 The Tea Party Experiment 135
6 Grasping Intentions and Empathy 139
7 Conclusions 140
References 140
Hierarchically Organized Mirroring Processes in Social Cognition: The Functional Neuroanatomy of Empathy 142
1 Introduction 142
2 Characteristics of Empathy 144
2.1 Phylogenetic Continuity 145
2.2 Foundational Mechanisms 147
2.3 Interdependencies and Dissociability 149
3 Functional Neuroanatomy of Empathy 150
3.1 Interoception (Insular and Cingulate Cortices) 150
3.2 Exteroception (Somatosensory Cortex) 153
3.3 Amygdala 154
3.4 Mirror Neuron System 154
4 Other Dimensions of Empathy 159
4.1 Self-Other 159
4.2 Mnemonic Processes 161
4.3 Hemispheric Asymmetries 161
5 Conclusions 162
References 163
Part 4: Relationship to Cognitive Processes 168
Mirror Neurons and the Neural Exploitation Hypothesis: From Embodied Simulation to Social Cognition 169
1 Introduction 169
2 Mirror Neurons 172
3 Mirroring Mechanisms in Humans 174
4 The Development of Mirroring Mechanisms and Social Identification 176
5 Embodied Simulation and Intentional Attunement 177
6 The MNS and Its Relevance in the Evolution of Social Cognition 179
7 A ‘Neurophenomenological’ Account of Language: Action, Experience, and Their Expression 180
8 Embodied Simulation and Language: Simulation at the Vehicle Level 183
9 Embodied Simulation and Language: Simulation at the Content Level 184
10 The ‘Neural Exploitation Hypothesis’ 187
11 Conclusions 188
References 190
From Imitation to Reciprocation and Mutual Recognition 197
1 Introduction 198
2 Imitation as Source of Innovation 201
3 Reciprocation 203
4 Mutual Recognition 205
5 From Basic Mirroring to Reciprocation and Social Expectations 207
6 From Secondary to Tertiary Inter-Subjectivity 209
7 Emergence of an Ethical Stance 211
8 Conclusions: Human Sociality Buds in Imitation But Blossoms in Reciprocation 213
References 215
Automatic and Controlled Processing within the Mirror Neuron System 219
1 Introduction 220
2 Automatic Processing Within the Human Mirror System 222
2.1 Behavioral Studies 222
2.2 Electrophysiological and Neuroimaging Studies 224
3 Controlled Processing in Macaque Mirror Neurons 226
4 Controlled Processing Within the Human Mirror System 227
4.1 Behavioral Studies 227
4.2 Electrophysiological and Neuroimaging Studies 229
5 Implications of Controlled Processing on the Human Mirror System 231
5.1 The Effect of Prior Exposure and Strategy on the Mirror System 231
5.2 Attentional Modulation of the Mirror System 233
6 Conclusions 234
References 235
Embodied Perspective on Emotion-Cognition Interactions 240
1 Introduction 240
2 Representing Emotion: Amodal and Modal Accounts 241
3 Mechanisms of Embodiment and Simulation 242
4 Embodying Emotion 244
5 Perceiving Emotional Information 245
5.1 Peripheral Mechanisms 245
5.2 Central Mechanisms 246
6 Emotional Understanding and Empathy 247
7 Social Functioning 247
7.1 Typical Individuals 248
7.2 Individuals with Autism 248
8 Influence of Emotion on Complex Behavior 250
9 Acquiring and Expressing Values, Preferences, and Attitudes 251
9.1 Attitude Formation 251
9.2 Expression of Attitudes 252
9.3 Flexible Embodiment 252
10 Linguistically Represented Emotion Knowledge 253
10.1 Emotion Concepts 253
10.2 Emotional Language 255
11 Open Issues 256
References 258
Part 5: Disorders of Mirroring 263
The Role of Mirror Neuron Dysfunction in Autism 264
1 Introduction 265
2 Impairments of Social Cognition in Autism 266
2.1 Imitation 266
2.2 Empathy 270
2.3 Theory of Mind 272
3 Mirror Neurons and Autism 276
4 A Mirror Neuron Theory of Autism 280
5 Conclusion 282
References 284
Synaesthesia for Pain: Feeling Pain with Another 290
1 Introduction 291
2 Mirror Neuron Systems 291
2.1 Action Understanding 291
2.2 Communication and Speech Perception 292
2.3 Empathy 293
3 Behavioral Mimicry and Emotional Contagion 293
3.1 Clinical Imitative Behavior 293
3.2 Behavioral Mimicry and Emotional Contagion 294
4 Empathic Perception of Another’s Painful Experience 296
4.1 Synaesthetic Experience: Case Summaries 298
4.1.1 Synaesthesia for Touch 298
4.1.2 Synaesthesia for Pain 298
Mirror Pain in Association with Hyperalgesia 298
Mirror Pain in the Phantom Limb Following Amputation 298
Mirror Pain in the Stumps Following Amputation 300
Mirror Pain Following Traumatic Childbirth 300
5 Mechanisms Underlying Synaesthesia for Pain 300
5.1 Mirror Neurons and Empathy for Pain 301
5.1.1 Autonomic Nervous System and Visceral Mechanisms 302
5.2 Sensitization and Hypervigilance to Pain 302
5.2.1 Sensitization to Pain 302
5.2.2 Attention and Hypervigilance to Pain Cues 303
6 Summary 304
References 305
Part 6: Alternative Views 311
Mirroring, Mindreading, and Simulation 312
1 Introduction 312
2 Definitional Issues 313
3 Four Theses about Mirroring Processes and Mindreading 315
4 Mirroring and Intention Attribution 316
5 Mirror-Based Attribution of Emotion 318
6 Pain and Touch 320
7 The Limits of Mirror-Based Mindreading 322
8 High-Level Simulation-Based Mindreading 325
9 Interactions between Cortical Midline Structures and Mirror Systems? 327
10 Conclusions 328
References 328
Does the Mirror Neuron System and Its Impairment Explain Human Imitation and Autism? 332
1 The ‘Dysfunctional Mirror Neuron System’ Hypothesis of Autism 332
2 Arguments Against the ‘Broken Mirror’ Hypothesis 334
2.1 Action Understanding Is Not Impaired in Autism 334
2.2 Imitative Abilities Are Not Impaired in ASD 335
2.3 The Mirror Neuron System and Human Imitation 338
2.3.1 Action Substitution and Efficiency 339
2.3.2 Fidelity of Imitation 340
2.3.3 Goal-Directed Imitation 341
3 An Alternative Hypothesis for the Connection Between ASD and Imitation 342
3.1 Imitation and Communication 342
3.2 Understanding Communicative Intent Is Impaired in Autism 344
3.3 The Mirror Neuron System in Autism 346
4 Conclusions 349
References 350
Neural Simulation and Social Cognition 356
1 Introduction 356
2 Explicit and Implicit Versions of Simulation Theory 357
3 Why Mirror Processes Are Not Simulations 361
4 An Alternative Interpretation 366
References 369
Index 373

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.3.2009
• Reihe/Serie: Contemporary Neuroscience
• Reihe/Serie: Contemporary Neuroscience
• Zusatzinfo: XIV, 376 p. 16 illus.
• Verlagsort: Totowa
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Allgemeine Psychologie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Persönlichkeitsstörungen
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Verhaltenstherapie
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Neurologie
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Studium
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: action • Brain imaging studies • Cognition • Cognitive process • Imitation • Mirroring brain mechanisms • MNS • Motor actions • neurons • Neurophysiology • Social behavior
• ISBN-13: 9781597454797 / 9781597454797