What are mirror neurons?
When we see a musical performance or a play, we sometimes feel the need to interpret the act, or even the sensations derived from such observation, a fact that, according to the experts, occurs because when contemplating the presentation, special neurons called mirror neurons are activated in our brains.
- Mirror neurons are a group of cells discovered by the team of neurobiologist Giacomo Rizzolatti that appear to be linked to empathetic.
- Social and imitative behaviors.
- Whose mission is to reflect the activity we observe.
After several studies, it has been proven that there is a group of cells that activate in the brain when an animal or human performs an activity, and when it observes that others perform an action, having a mental representation of it. using the word “mirror. “
Therefore, a mirror neuron is a nerve cell that is activated in two situations: 1. When performing an action; 2. When you see someone perform an action.
Compared to the second situation, what happens is that the neuron reproduces the same neural activity corresponding to the perceived action, but without performing the behavior externally, corresponding to a mental representation of the action, that is, what is mobilized is a neuronal response reflected in the brain.
These cells are located in the lower frontal cortex of the brain, near the language area, allowing specialists to study the relationship between language and imitation of gestures and sounds.
Mirror neurons are the cells in charge of making us yawn when we see someone else yawn, or it makes us surprised by imitating a gesture from a loved one without knowing why.
In addition, mirror neurons play a fundamental role in psychology, related to the behavioral part, such as empathy, imitation learning, helping to behave with others, etc. , proving once again that we are social beings.
Image credits: Martin Hricko.