NLPers are the go-to experts on mirror neurones, seriously. In the ’90s it was the amygdala that was the brain bit of choice, and then thanks to Anthony Robbins, it was the “Reticular Activating System” in the 2000s. These days it’s mirror neurones.
For me the most frustrating thing is that the vast majority of what these NLPers claim is utterly false and, at best, just an overly simplistic explanation and superficial understanding of the subject.
Mirror neurones are a type of brain cell that were first discovered in the 1990s by a group of Italian neuroscientists led by Giacomo Rizzolatti. These neurones are located in several areas of the brain, including the premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area, and the inferior parietal lobule, and are involved in a wide range of processes related to perception, action, and social cognition.
The term “mirror neurones” originates from their initial discovery in macaque monkeys, where researchers observed that these neurones fired both when the monkeys performed a specific action (such as grasping a piece of food) and when they observed another monkey performing the same action. In other words, the neurones “mirrored” the action of the observed monkey in the brain of the observing monkey.
The bit NLPers seem to fail to realise, and most certainly never comment upon, is the vivisection that takes place in such neurological research. The discovery of mirror neurones in monkeys was based on experiments that involved implanting electrodes in the premotor cortex and adjacent regions of the monkey brain and then observing the firing of individual neurones in response to specific actions. Intelligent animals are invariably killed at the end of these “trials” – they live in sterile laboratories, are abused scientifically, and suffer a life of never-ending torment.
In the original experiments by Rizzolatti and colleagues, these unfortunate monkeys were trained to grasp objects using either a precision grip, which involves the use of the index finger and thumb, or a power grip, which involves the use of all fingers. During the experiment, the monkeys were shown a human experimenter performing the same actions, either using a precision grip or a power grip.
The researchers found that some neurones in the premotor cortex of the monkeys fired not only when the monkeys performed the action, but also when they observed the experimenter performing the same action. Moreover, the same neurones did not respond when the monkey observed the experimenter performing a different action, such as grasping the object with a different grip.
This pattern of firing was interpreted as evidence for the existence of mirror neurones, which are thought to be involved in action understanding and imitation.
Since their discovery, mirror neurones have allegedly been found in humans as well, though this is heavily disputed. They have been implicated in a variety of functions, including imitation, empathy, and language processing. One theory is that mirror neurones play a critical role in our ability to understand the intentions, emotions, and experiences of others by allowing us to simulate their actions and experiences in our own brains.
Some research has shown that mirror neurones are possibly located in both the premotor and primary motor cortex, and they are thought to play a role in both areas. For example, mirror neurones in the premotor cortex may be involved in planning and executing complex movements, while those in the primary motor cortex may be involved in more basic movements.
In addition, studies have suggested that mirror neurones in the motor cortex may play a role in social cognition and empathy. For example, when we observe someone else performing an action, mirror neurones in our own motor cortex become activated, allowing us to simulate the observed action in our brain. This may help us to understand and empathise with the actions and experiences of others.
There is still much that is not fully understood about mirror neurones, and research in this area is ongoing. Despite the cherry-picking by NLPers of data to support their favourite pet theory and the fact that there is indeed a substantial body of research suggesting that mirror neurones exist in humans, there are also some studies that have raised questions about their existence. Specifically, some researchers have argued that the evidence for mirror neurones in humans is based on flawed methodology or is not robust enough to support their existence.
One criticism of the mirror neurone hypothesis is that the experiments used to study them may be prone to biases and confounds. For example, many of the original studies of mirror neurones in monkeys relied on single-cell recordings, which can be affected by factors such as electrode placement and variability in firing rates. Similarly, many of the studies of mirror neurones in humans have relied on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which can be affected by a variety of factors such as motion artefacts, signal dropout, and individual differences in brain anatomy.
Another criticism of the mirror neurone hypothesis is that the evidence for their existence may be overstated. While some studies have reported robust findings of mirror neurone activity in humans, others have failed to find evidence of mirror neurones in the same brain regions. Moreover, some researchers have argued that the phenomena that have been attributed to mirror neurones, such as empathy and imitation, may be mediated by other brain areas and processes.
Despite these criticisms, many researchers continue to investigate the existence and function of mirror neurones in humans. New methods for studying brain activity, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG), may provide more robust evidence for the existence of these neurones and their role in human cognition and behaviour.
Here are a few references to studies that have raised questions about the existence of mirror neurones in humans:
- Hickok, G. (2009). Eight problems for the mirror neurone theory of action understanding in monkeys and humans. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 21(7), 1229-1243.
- Lingnau, A., Gesierich, B., & Caramazza, A. (2009). Asymmetric fMRI adaptation reveals no evidence for mirror neurones in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(24), 9925-9930.
- Rizzolatti, G., & Craighero, L. (2004). The mirror-neurone system. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 27, 169-192.
- Schippers, M. B., Gazzola, V., Goebel, R., & Keysers, C. (2009). Playing charades in the fMRI: are mirror and/or mentalising areas involved in gestural communication? PloS One, 4(8), e6801.
- Vigneswaran, G., Philipp, R., Lemon, R. N., & Kraskov, A. (2013). M1 corticospinal mirror neurones and their role in movement suppression during action observation. Current Biology, 23(3), 236-243.
It is worth noting that these studies do not necessarily refute the existence of mirror neurones in humans but rather raise questions about the validity of some of the methods and claims made in the literature. Overall, the debate surrounding mirror neurones and their role in human cognition and behaviour is ongoing, and further research is needed to fully understand their functions.
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The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a non-profit organisation that promotes the use of non-animal methods in medical research and education. The organisation advocates for ethical and effective medical practices that prioritise the use of alternatives to animal testing and provides resources and support for researchers and educators who are interested in adopting these methods. The organisation also advocates for a plant-based diet as a means of improving health and preventing disease.
