Caution: Mirror Neurons at work

[kpugh]

I just learned a bit about mirror neurons. Researchers had wired a monkey's brain to study some food-related brain activity. They soon noticed that when the monkey picked up a peanut placed in front of him, his brain fired a certain way, and they recorded that. Then, they recorded the different pattern of brain activity when he ate the peanut, and then when he put a peanut into a cup. Having recorded these distinctly different patterns, they took a break.

During the break, a researcher picked up a peanut and ate it. The equipment was still hooked up to the monkey, who's brain fired the exact pattern as if he had eaten the peanut himself! Intrigued, the researcher then picked up another peanut, and the monkey's brain fired the "pick-up peanut pattern" from earlier. Then the researcher moved his hand holding the peanut towards his mouth slightly, and the monkey's brain fired the "eat the peanut pattern". Wondering, the researcher then obstructed the monkey's view so he could only see the researcher's hand pick up the peanut, but not if it was going towards his mouth or towards the cup. Even without seeing anything except the peanut being picked up, the monkey was able to accurately fire the correct brain patterns based on the intent of the researcher!

In other words, if the researcher THOUGHT about moving the peanut to the cup, the monkey's brain fired the "put peanut in cup" pattern! If the researcher THOUGHT about eating the peanut, the monkey's brain fired the "eat the peanut pattern".

They discovered something called "mirror neurons" that somehow communicated the researcher's intent without words, gestures, or any other conventional mode of communication. They're still researching this, but it's pretty fascinating, isn't it?

This might begin to explain how when someone raises their hand towards you, it's possible to instinctively know if they are about to slap you OR pat you on the shoulder...their mirror neurons are somehow communicating their INTENT to you!!