Cells That Read Minds

NY Times ^ | January 10, 2006 | SANDRA BLAKESLEE

[neverdem]

On a hot summer day 15 years ago in Parma, Italy, a monkey sat in a special laboratory chair waiting for researchers to return from lunch. Thin wires had been implanted in the region of its brain involved in planning and carrying out movements.

Every time the monkey grasped and moved an object, some cells in that brain region would fire, and a monitor would register a sound: brrrrrip, brrrrrip, brrrrrip.

A graduate student entered the lab with an ice cream cone in his hand. The monkey stared at him. Then, something amazing happened: when the student raised the cone to his lips, the monitor sounded - brrrrrip, brrrrrip, brrrrrip - even though the monkey had not moved but had simply observed the student grasping the cone and moving it to his mouth.

The researchers, led by Giacomo Rizzolatti, a neuroscientist at the University of Parma, had earlier noticed the same strange phenomenon with peanuts. The same brain cells fired when the monkey watched humans or other monkeys bring peanuts to their mouths as when the monkey itself brought a peanut to its mouth.

Later, the scientists found cells that fired when the monkey broke open a peanut or heard someone break a peanut. The same thing happened with bananas, raisins and all kinds of other objects.

"It took us several years to believe what we were seeing," Dr. Rizzolatti said in a recent interview. The monkey brain contains a special class of cells, called mirror neurons, that fire when the animal sees or hears an action and when the animal carries out the same action on its own.

But if the findings, published in 1996, surprised most scientists, recent research has left them flabbergasted. Humans, it turns out, have mirror neurons that are far smarter, more flexible and more...

[neverdem]

I found the slide show more useful for the following captions. Their images were more like abstract art. I included the last two.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN Social emotions like guilt, shame, pride, embarrassment, disgust and lust are based on a uniquely human mirror neuron system found in a part of the brain called the insula, researchers say. In one study, people watched a hand move forward to caress someone else and then saw another hand push it away rudely. The insula region of their brains registered the social pain of rejection.

LEARNING BY WATCHING More than other primates, humans are hard-wired for imitation. An infant a few days old will stick out his tongue after watching his mother do the same thing. Mirror neurons, researchers have found, begin working at birth. They are involved when a child observes an action and then practices performing it.

Leigh Wells
AMAZING FEATS In humans, mirror neurons are much smarter, more flexible and more highly evolved than in monkeys, scientists have found, and they appear to be involved not only in actions but in intentions and emotions—the things that make humans social animals. When a person watches someone else perform an action—say a kick—mirror neurons in the brain simulate the action and provide a template for anticipating what will happen next.

Leigh Wells
MODELS OF AGGRESSION Mirror neurons are at their best when humans are face to face. But at least one study found that the cells, along with several brain areas involved in aggression, were activated when children watched a violent television program. That activation increased the chances that the children would behave aggressively minutes or hours later.

[beaver fever]

"In one study, people watched a hand move forward to caress someone else and then saw another hand push it away rudely. The insula region of their brains registered the social pain of rejection."

In one of my studies I found that after kissing a human baby it would immediately respond by grabbing my mustache and drool all over my face.

[GOPJ]

Studies show that some mirror neurons fire when a person reaches for a glass or watches someone else reach for a glass; others fire when the person puts the glass down and still others fire when the person reaches for a toothbrush and so on. They respond when someone kicks a ball, sees a ball being kicked, hears a ball being kicked and says or hears the word "kick."

Wow, wonder if animals could learn to salivate when they see someone eating? Or even respoond to a bell? It's, it's like pairing or conditioning or something...</sarcasm>

[martin_fierro]

LEARNING BY WATCHING More than other primates, humans are hard-wired for imitation.

There's a tie-in here somewhere to the pr0n awards in Vegas, but damned if I know what it is.

[ApplegateRanch]

Cells That Read Minds

I waded through the whole damned thing, and, true to previous experience, the Times lies.

What is needed now is a deeper study to find out why, with full mirrors reflecting, a beheader doesn't "mirror" the beheadee's fear & acquiescence; and why the beheadee doesn't "mirror" the beheader's viciousness.

ITMT, I'll learn, gain experience, condition, and dehabituate myself as circumstances dictate, all while still wishing I could read my wife's mind BEFORE P.O.ing her.

[neverdem]

There's More to the North Star Than Meets the Eye

When the Pill Arouses That Urge for Abstinence

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[neverdem]

I waded through the whole damned thing, and, true to previous experience, the Times lies.

What is needed now is a deeper study to find out why, with full mirrors reflecting, a beheader doesn't "mirror" the beheadee's fear & acquiescence; and why the beheadee doesn't "mirror" the beheader's viciousness.

They did have comments about aggression. Beheadees are usually, already bound and can't resist.

[glorgau]

It's been known for years. Monkey see, monkey do. ;-)

[albee]

Bump for later reading.

[carumba]

...all while still wishing I could read my wife's mind BEFORE P.O.ing her.

Keep me updated. I need help in this specific area and others such as actually giving a Christmas gift that is wanted, not saying stupid things, when to safely emit flatulence...you know, the basics.

[M. Thatcher]

It's been known for years. Monkey see, monkey do."

Exactly.

Which is why this statement:

It took us several years to believe what we were seeing," Dr. Rizzolatti said

leads me to conclude we are not dealing with the brightest lights in the scientific kingdom.

[Erasmus]

[...]when to safely emit flatulence[...]

That one's trivial, isn't it? Avoid open flames.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"You know what they say-human see, human do."

[El Gato]

In one of my studies I found that after kissing a human baby it would immediately respond by grabbing my mustache and drool all over my face.

Only if they love you.

.....

Or at least aren't afraid of you.