I’ve referred to mirror neurons in the past, but I thought with the new direction this column has taken about living mindfully and the inner workings of brain itself, it would be of value to write a bit more extensively on the subject. What neuroscientists refer to as “mirror” neurons are those found in the pre-motor cortex (the area connected with the organization and pre-planning of our movements), and the inferior parietal cortex (governing spatial relations and navigation) of the human brain. Originally, neuroscientists used brain imagining experiments through fMRIs (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to explain their belief that these neurons “fire up” in a networked fashion when a human (or primate) acts, as well as when that human (or primate) simply observes the same action performed by another of their species. When the networked firing of neurons occurs, many neuroscientists believe, neurons “mirror” the behavior of the other, as though the observer were him- or herself performing the action. It was not until November 2007 that neuroscientists announced that mirror neurons had for the first time been directly identified in humans, after neurosurgeon Itzhak Fried implanted electrodes into the brains of consenting epileptic patients in an effort to find the origins of their seizures and to enable possible surgical treatment.

The existence of mirror neurons was first brought to public attention in Italy in 1992 by researchers Giacomo Rizzolatti and Vittorio Gallese at the University of Parma when studying movements within the brains of macaque monkeys. During one of their experiments, one of the men reached his hand out to grab a peanut to give to the monkey. The scientists then observed the same neurons in the monkey’s brain starting to fire as if it was reaching for a peanut himself. Taking this a step further, there was practically no measurable difference in neuron activity within the monkey’s brain when it reached for a peanut or if the monkey was observing a human being doing the same thing.

In humans, this network of neurons working interdependently is called the mirror neuron system. An example almost everyone can relate to is how “contagious” a yawn is; we see someone yawning and we often yawn back – or at least struggle not to. The same phenomenon happens when someone smiles at us – more often then not, we smile back without even consciously thinking about it. For me, I’ve always cringed whenever I’d see someone getting an injection (but didn’t know exactly why) – whether it’s happening right in front of me or on a TV show or a movie, and is an illustration of how deeply empathetic I am in regard to another human being’s pain – real or imagined. Have you ever noticed an actor reflexively applauding him- or herself at an awards ceremony and think how vain they must be? It may not be narcissism at work at all – just simple “monkey see, monkey do.” Even Madonna’s faux-British accent may not be entirely calculated. (But then again…)

Although much greater study and experimentation is needed to refine mirror neuron theories (and of course there are critics and detractors), many different social/cognitive skill functions related to the mirror neuron system have been suggested, including:
• empathy
• understanding the intentions and goals of others
• the evolution of language
• the grander theories of “mind” itself
• the ability to read someone else’s mind (not to be confused with psychic abilities)
Some researchers feel that a deficiency or impairment in mirror neurons may explain why autistic individuals cannot authentically understand or empathize with other people emotionally, but extensive research on this theory is only in the beginning stages. If this is possible, it makes one wonder if an impairment in mirror neurons may also be a contributing factor in those who struggle with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) or antisocial personality disorder (APD), as these individuals are partially defined by their lack of basic human empathy or any shred of remorse for emotional pain they inflict upon others – or if such lack is only due to other conditions present in their lives.
Most scientists, even supporters of mirror neuron theories, agree that they are only a piece of the larger puzzle in what makes us human. But proponents are very passionate in their endorsement. Dr. V.S. Ramachandran, professor of Neuroscience and Psychology and Director of Center for Brain and Cognition at the University of California at San Diego, said “I predict that mirror neurons will do for psychology what DNA did for biology: they will provide a unifying framework and help explain a host of mental abilities that have hitherto remained mysterious and inaccessible to experiments.”
Remember the pain I said I’ve felt my entire life when seeing someone receive an injection but I didn’t know scientifically why I experience that phenomenon?

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