Associative learning alone is insufficient for the evolution and maintenance of the human mirror neuron system. Issue 2 (29th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oberman, Lindsay M.; Hubbard, Edward M.; McCleery, Joseph P.
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 37:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 212
• Page End: 213
• Publication Date: 2014-04-29
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X13002422
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Cook et al. argue that mirror neurons originate from associative learning processes, without evolutionary influence from social-cognitive mechanisms. We disagree with this claim and present arguments based upon cross-species comparisons, EEG findings, and developmental neuroscience that the evolution of mirror neurons is most likely driven simultaneously and interactively by evolutionarily adaptive psychological mechanisms and lower-level biological mechanisms that support them.</p> </abstract>