Mirror neurons

Just over 20 years ago, an Italian team reported findings on macaques showing the existence of a “surprising new class” of neurons in a particular region of the premotor cortex of the macaque brain (1). These neurons were active not only when the macaque performed an action—like grabbing an object—but also when the macaque watched the same action being performed by a person or another monkey. The researchers named these neurons “mirror neurons” and proposed that they provide the basis for what became known as “action understanding” in macaques, allowing them to interpret the intentions or goals of the person or monkey whose actions they are observing. An example of a mirror neuron. Image courtesy of Richard Cole, Wadsworth Center, …