What can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system?

In recent years, work surrounding theories of embodiment and the role of the putative mirror neuron system (MNS) in humans has gained considerable attention. If humans have developed a net-work of neurons that fire in response to other beings’ actions, as has been shown in macaques, this system coul...

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Autors principals: Juliana Baldo, Fernando Gonzalez-Perilli, Agustin Ibanez, Analia Arevalo
Format: Online
Idioma:anglès
Publicat: Frontiers Media SA 2021
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Accés en línia:18880
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author Juliana Baldo
Fernando Gonzalez-Perilli
Agustin Ibanez
Analia Arevalo
author_browse Agustin Ibanez
Analia Arevalo
Fernando Gonzalez-Perilli
Juliana Baldo
author_facet Juliana Baldo
Fernando Gonzalez-Perilli
Agustin Ibanez
Analia Arevalo
author_sort Juliana Baldo
collection Directory of Open Access Books
description In recent years, work surrounding theories of embodiment and the role of the putative mirror neuron system (MNS) in humans has gained considerable attention. If humans have developed a net-work of neurons that fire in response to other beings’ actions, as has been shown in macaques, this system could have vast implications for all kinds of cognitive processes unique to humans, such as language, learning, empathy and communication in general. The goal of tapping into and understanding such a system is a fascinating yet challenging one. One form of embodiment - embodied linguistics - suggests that the way we process linguistic information is linked to our physical experience of the concept conveyed by each word. The interaction between these cognitive systems (i.e., language and motor processing) may occur thanks to the firing of neurons making up the MNS. The possible interdependence between different cognitive systems has implications for healthy as well as pathological profiles, and in fact, work in recent years has also explored the role of ‘embodiment’ and/or the MNS in clinical populations such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Autism, among others. Research on embodiment and/or the MNS has been approached with a number of different methodologies, but the results obtained with these different methodologies have not been entirely consistent, generating doubts regarding the theories. The question has been raised as to what this line of inquiry can gain from the types of evidence contributed by functional neuroimaging methods carried out with healthy volunteers versus behavioral or lesion-symptom mapping methods employed with neurologically-compromised individuals. Of particular interest are the clinical applications of this line of research. If indeed a system exists which reflects a tight link between, for example, the human language and motor systems, then the obvious challenge is to tap into this system to create useful therapies that can provide rehabilitation where damage has occurred. This Research Topic brought together work conducted with healthy and patient populations using several behavioral and imaging techniques, as well as insightful commentaries and opinion pieces. We believe the combined work of the participating authors is an important contribution to this intriguing line of research and an excellent point of reference for future work.
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spelling doab-20.500.12854ir-626162024-04-05T12:35:38Z What can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system? Juliana Baldo Fernando Gonzalez-Perilli Agustin Ibanez Analia Arevalo RC321-571 Q1-390 action perception Mirror activity Embodied Simulation Action Understanding Imitation Embodied Cognition Empathy embodiment motor-language processing Mirror Neurons thema EDItEUR::P Mathematics and Science::PS Biology, life sciences::PSA Life sciences: general issues::PSAN Neurosciences In recent years, work surrounding theories of embodiment and the role of the putative mirror neuron system (MNS) in humans has gained considerable attention. If humans have developed a net-work of neurons that fire in response to other beings’ actions, as has been shown in macaques, this system could have vast implications for all kinds of cognitive processes unique to humans, such as language, learning, empathy and communication in general. The goal of tapping into and understanding such a system is a fascinating yet challenging one. One form of embodiment - embodied linguistics - suggests that the way we process linguistic information is linked to our physical experience of the concept conveyed by each word. The interaction between these cognitive systems (i.e., language and motor processing) may occur thanks to the firing of neurons making up the MNS. The possible interdependence between different cognitive systems has implications for healthy as well as pathological profiles, and in fact, work in recent years has also explored the role of ‘embodiment’ and/or the MNS in clinical populations such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Autism, among others. Research on embodiment and/or the MNS has been approached with a number of different methodologies, but the results obtained with these different methodologies have not been entirely consistent, generating doubts regarding the theories. The question has been raised as to what this line of inquiry can gain from the types of evidence contributed by functional neuroimaging methods carried out with healthy volunteers versus behavioral or lesion-symptom mapping methods employed with neurologically-compromised individuals. Of particular interest are the clinical applications of this line of research. If indeed a system exists which reflects a tight link between, for example, the human language and motor systems, then the obvious challenge is to tap into this system to create useful therapies that can provide rehabilitation where damage has occurred. This Research Topic brought together work conducted with healthy and patient populations using several behavioral and imaging techniques, as well as insightful commentaries and opinion pieces. We believe the combined work of the participating authors is an important contribution to this intriguing line of research and an excellent point of reference for future work. 2021-02-12T08:28:52Z 2021-02-12T08:28:52Z 2016-04-07 11:22:02 2016 book 18880 16648714 9782889197613 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/62616 eng Frontiers Research Topics image/jpeg Attribution 4.0 International http://www.frontiersin.org/books/What_Can_We_Make_of_Theories_of_Embodiment_and_the_Role_of_the_Human_Mirror_Neuron_System_/814#nogo http://journal.frontiersin.org/researchtopic/1836/what-can-we-make-of-theories-of-embodiment-and-the-role-of-the-human-mirror-neuron-system Frontiers Media SA 10.3389/978-2-88919-761-3 10.3389/978-2-88919-761-3 bf5ce210-e72e-4860-ba9b-c305640ff3ae 9782889197613 116 open access
spellingShingle RC321-571
Q1-390
action perception
Mirror activity
Embodied Simulation
Action Understanding
Imitation
Embodied Cognition
Empathy
embodiment
motor-language processing
Mirror Neurons
thema EDItEUR::P Mathematics and Science::PS Biology, life sciences::PSA Life sciences: general issues::PSAN Neurosciences
Juliana Baldo
Fernando Gonzalez-Perilli
Agustin Ibanez
Analia Arevalo
What can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system?
title What can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system?
title_full What can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system?
title_fullStr What can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system?
title_full_unstemmed What can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system?
title_short What can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system?
title_sort what can we make of theories of embodiment and the role of the human mirror neuron system
topic RC321-571
Q1-390
action perception
Mirror activity
Embodied Simulation
Action Understanding
Imitation
Embodied Cognition
Empathy
embodiment
motor-language processing
Mirror Neurons
thema EDItEUR::P Mathematics and Science::PS Biology, life sciences::PSA Life sciences: general issues::PSAN Neurosciences
topic_facet RC321-571
Q1-390
action perception
Mirror activity
Embodied Simulation
Action Understanding
Imitation
Embodied Cognition
Empathy
embodiment
motor-language processing
Mirror Neurons
thema EDItEUR::P Mathematics and Science::PS Biology, life sciences::PSA Life sciences: general issues::PSAN Neurosciences
url 18880
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