Giacomo Rizolatti - Mirror Neurons

Two ways of understanding

Dr. Giacomo Rizzolatti explains that the mirror neuron system is not always enough for understanding to take place. This is because the mirror system does not work with inferences about a situation beyond what the individual has experienced. Instead, the mirror system provides understanding from a first person point of view. Given this, humans have two ways of understanding things: (1) conceptual understanding (inferences) and (2) experience-based understanding (first person). During conceptual understanding, inferences are made in order to understanding. During experience-based understanding, an individual’s experience coincides with another’s experience to provide understanding.

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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