Okay, this fact is really cool! So mirror neurons are cells that fire in our brains when we see actions and when we repeat that action. In a NY Times article ("Cells That Read Minds" -- January 10,2006), UCLA neuroscientist Dr. Marco Iacoboni tell us, "When you see me perform an action -- such a picking up a baseball -- you automatically simulate the action in your brain ... You understand my action because you have in your brain a template for that action based on your own movements." Basically, when we watch things happen, our brain is imitating those same things.
These mirror neurons are also directly related to empathy, or understanding the feelings and expressions of others. Dr. Iacoboni continues to explain, "And if you see me choke up, in emotional distress from striking out at home plate, mirror neurons in your brain simulate my distress. You automatically have empathy for me. You know how I feel because you literally feel what I am feeling." When you see someone being physically hurt and feel as though you can sense their pain, it is because you really do feel their pain -- at least in your brain. Those who rank high on scales measuring empathy have "particularly active mirror neuron systems", the NY Times article explains.
This research on mirror neurons could have implications for little understood conditions such as Autism. As the article states, "While many people with autism can identify an emotional expression, like sadness, on another person's face, or imitate sad looks with their own faces, they do not feel the same emotional significance of the imitated emotion. From observing other people, they do not know what it feels like to be sad, angry, disgusted or surprised." Some researchers have been led to believe that broken mirror neurons could play a part in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Mirror neurons are also important when it comes to our understanding of violence and aggression. While it has been found that mirror neurons work best in real life, a study in the January 2006 issue of Media Psychology "found that when children watched violent television programs, mirror neurons, as well as several brain regions involved in aggression were activated, increasing the probability that the children would behave violently." This could help to explain why those who witness a lot of violence are more likely to become violent. Many people worry that watching violence will desensitive us to violence and make us think that it's okay. It turns out that it could be more complex than just psychology. It could be that those violent behaviors are actually becoming imprinted in our brains and becoming part of our neurobiology.
It just goes to show how fascinating and truly complex the human brain is. And now when I get teased for being "overly sensitive" when it comes to movies, etc. I can just respond, "I can't help it! I have highly active mirror neurons!"
Here is a YouTube video that I found discussing the connection between empathy and mirror neurons:
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