Mirror Neurons: How We Reflect on Behavior by Eric Jaffe (2007)
Summary/Critique
The mirror neurons theory is derived when neurological structures fired depict the ideal social nature of the brain being reflected. This theory is related to the effect movies have on the human behavior. Researchers have observed that this analysis is true. The viewer connects to the reflection or the characters in the movies and they may experience behavior change. This same reflex occurs when researchers implanted electrodes in the heads of monkeys. The researchers noticed that the monkeys clutched onto food the same way a human being would. The implanted electrodes caused this to happen. The general concept behind mirror neutrons is that there is a great possibility that we are factually in the brains of other people.
In this article, the author mentions on how the mental cells in the human brain tend to multitask. It states that the mirror neurons located in the brain control the actions that hold perception thus the social interaction takes up a major role in cognition. This is proven while watching boxing; chances are that the spectator might react in a similar manner as the boxer in the ring as he fights back. According to William James, before one performs an action, chances are he has already had a mental picture of the action. Monkeys in Rizzollatti’s lab are well known for their multitasking cells. On seeing human beings breaking peanuts, the monkeys ape the action and do the same with the peanuts. The monkeys view this as a reflection of their own self in the mirror, hence the name ‘mirror neurons’. However, the same mirror neurons as linked to human beings do not have the exact reflex in the monkey electrodes. Researchers noticed that human beings tend to respond in behavior at the sight of the action and internally repeat the actions.
The article talks about imitation of action behavior, which is equally seen two weeks after birth in the babies; actions like mouth opening, finger movement and even the tongue in and out of the mouth, are some of the actions the baby imitates. It is through observation that babies learn things. Human beings are not born with a reflex action in doing certain things. In the article, Metzlof mentions that as babies grow, they realize they are equal to the rest of humankind as they interact with people within their environment. This progress is gradual for they soon realize that they cannot only imitate but they can have a variety of their own desires. This opposes the mirror system that shows human beings reflecting on other people’s actions.
However, this theory has its own limitations; the crack in the mirror system is another theory that revokes the idea behind the mirror neuron. In this analysis, children with the autism syndrome may be more impaired to the mirror system. As research was carried out among 20 children, the autistic child experienced no brain response when asked to imitate brain faces. This mirror system does not relate to its argument; as observed, it is unfair to compare a normal child to an autistic child because the brain cells will not be the same. The theory is not based on research on all people but it is related to certain people in respect to gender and the experiences this people are undergoing. This theory applies to some and not to others and therefore cannot to be looked at as factual in all cases.
I agree with the fact that human beings are not born with a set pattern in the way it reacts. It is true that through learning, a human being is able to acquire different mechanisms in which it reacts. However, the babies take a longer period to realize that they are human beings. They gradually acquire traits that are related to the environment in which they live in but as they grow, they acquire general human traits beyond their surrounding. It is true that as the child grows, the imitative social games that the child indulges in first help the child create mental maps in which he or she is able to relate to the feeling he or she may possess. For example, the child may begin with humble beginnings before he or she relates to stuff that is more technical. It is true that the mind of the child is as a sponge that absorbs most of the information that it acquires from its surrounding; not only does this happen to adults but also infants experience the same in their life stages. This same theory implicates itself while an adult is watching a movie. It is true that some attributes are perceived through reflex while watching a movie or T.V programme.
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