Mirror Neurons
Mirror neurons can recreate someone’s emotional state in us. That is how we empathize with others. Our brains run an internal simulation based on what we see and hear. A similar state is created within us. Empathy stems from being able to feel what others feel. That comes from having a similar state internally. Mirror neurons help create that internal state. There is a transference of experience.
Separate minds connect and communicate wirelessly by neuronal mirroring. The neurons that fire when we act are the same ones that fire when we merely observe that action. The firing rate is approximately 50% lower. The experience is certainly less intense. The intensity depends on the level of engagement.
When someone fumbles and bumbles, it makes us uncomfortable. That is neuronal mirroring. We laugh with others, cry with them, and feel their pain. The neurons in our mind mirror the neurons in other minds.
We enjoy movies and videos because we’re not just watching them; we’re also engaged with them. Mirror neurons make us feel like we’re part of the experience. When we watch with engagement, our mirror neurons fire as if we were in the action. A good movie aims to immerse the viewer, maximizing the firing rate of mirror neurons to simulate a real-life experience.
Giacomo Rizzolati discovered mirror neurons in the 1990s while studying macaque monkeys. They identified a specific neuron firing pattern in the monkey’s cortex when it picked up a peanut. When a graduate student picked up a peanut, the same neurons lit up in the monkey’s brain. They conducted additional experiments and found that the phenomenon was not limited to monkeys, humans, and peanuts. Several other researchers have since studied mirror neurons.
"We are exquisitely social creatures. Our survival depends on understanding the actions, intentions and emotions of others." — Giacomo Rizzolatti
Marco Iacoboni at UCLA used brain imaging to demonstrate that humans have an even more sophisticated mirror neuron system than monkeys. Human mirror neurons don't just respond to actions—they also activate when we observe facial expressions, emotions, and even hear sounds associated with actions. When you hear someone cracking their knuckles, your mirror neurons fire as if you were doing the cracking yourself.
"Mirror neurons allow us to grasp the minds of others not through conceptual reasoning but through direct simulation—by feeling, not by thinking." — Marco Iacoboni.
Mirror neurons are located in multiple brain regions, not just the motor cortex. Mirror neurons can distinguish between different intentions behind the same action. The neurons fire differently when someone reaches for a cup to drink versus when they go for a cup to clean it, even though the initial movement appears identical.
Now we know that this process occurs all the time in the human brain, the monkey brain, the bird brain, and even the mouse brain. Mice show signs of distress when they observe the feet of fellow mice being shocked. This neural mechanism is of fundamental importance for social creatures.
Mirroring is a big part of how we learn language and other behaviors. Babies learn to say ‘Mama’ by watching, listening, and imitating. When a pianist watches another pianist perform, their motor neurons light up as if they were playing the piece themselves. But show that same pianist a violinist, and the response is muted. Mirroring is enhanced by personal experience and skill.
We can learn from and imitate actions we’ve never done before. 'Learning by watching' is now supported by brain science. When a tennis coach shows a perfect serve, similar neurons in the student’s brain activate, even if they've never served; this neural mimicry lays the groundwork for learning. The brain rehearses the move before the body tries it. Visualizing the serve boosts mirror neuron activity, strengthening neural pathways. By the time they serve, their brain has practiced the motion many times. The physical act is preceded by neural simulation.
Athletes use vivid mental rehearsal, which, through the activation of mirror neurons, creates muscle tension and primes them for peak performance. Elite athletes watch footage of perfect technique, and apprentices shadow master craftspeople. The brain is absorbing the neural patterns of expertise, creating a scaffold for physical learning. Neural learning precedes and follows physical learning.
Cultural behaviors, mannerisms, and even accents spread through communities by mirroring. It is how we develop our sense of social identity and a sense of belonging.
Emotional contagion explains crowd behavior. Coherence can lead to frenzy. Neural coupling amplifies stock price movements and plays a role in market crashes. People can unconsciously mirror anxiety or aggressive behaviors from others around them. Toxic workplace cultures can arise through the subconscious activity of mirror neurons.
Teachers who are enthusiastic about their subject matter can inspire similar neural activity in their students. Leaders who remain calm under pressure can help their teams mirror that composure during challenging situations.
Our life experiences come from our actions and from observing the actions of others. My doing as well as my seeing creates my neuronal experience. Where is my attention? Through mirror neurons, my attention shapes the quality of my experience without conscious action. We choose when it comes to action, but we must also exercise choice regarding our attention.
I am also a mirror. What do I look at? What I see defines me as much as what I do.