Giacomo Rizolatti - Mirror Neurons

The processing of intentions in autistic children

Dr. Giacomo Rizzolatti explains that a motor act (e.g., picking up chocolate with the intention of eating it) elicits two types of information: (1) the goal and (2) the intention underlying it. Children with autism are able to realize these two aspects of motor acts (goal and intention) but do so differently than other people. Children with autism immediately show neuron activity for the goal but activity for the intention is delayed until the motor act has begun (normal humans show activation for both the goal and intention simultaneously). Dr. Rizzolatti explains that children with autism perceive the intention conceptually (rather than physically) and therefore have difficulties in understanding others' intentions when they have to rely exclusively on motor cues.

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The discovery of mirror neurons
The discovery of mirror neurons
The discovery of mirror neurons
The discovery of mirror neurons
Initial reaction
Initial reaction
Mirror neurons - from monkeys to humans
Mirror neurons - from monkeys to humans
Homology
Homology
Counting neurons
Counting neurons
Anatomy of mirror system pathways
Anatomy of mirror system pathways
Understanding actions of others
Understanding actions of others
Understanding actions of others
Understanding actions of others
Two ways of understanding
Two ways of understanding
Observation and skill learning
Observation and skill learning
An emotional mirror mechanism
An emotional mirror mechanism
An emotional mirror mechanism
An emotional mirror mechanism
Modulation of emotional responses
Modulation of emotional responses
Critics of mirror neuron research
Critics of mirror neuron research
Critics of mirror neuron mechanisms
Critics of mirror neuron mechanisms
Mirror neurons and their role in the evolution of language
Mirror neurons and their role in the evolution of language
The evolution of language from gestures
The evolution of language from gestures
The mirror mechanism and autism
The mirror mechanism and autism
Autism and the mirror system
Autism and the mirror system
The processing of intentions in autistic children
The processing of intentions in autistic children
Neurorehabilitation
Neurorehabilitation
Application of mirror mechanisms in neurorehabilitation
Application of mirror mechanisms in neurorehabilitation