Mirror Neurons and Mind Reading Presented by Amrita Singh and Sandeep Aitha Keysers C, Gazzola V Hebbian learning and predictive mirror neurons for actions, sensations and emotions. Phil. Trans. R. Soc.

Basic Hypothesis: Development of Mirror Neurons through Hebbian Learning

Hebbian Learning: Neurons that fire together, wire together Contingency and Contiguity are important

STS Superior Temporal Sulcus PM Pre-Motor Cortex Generates Motor Actions Responds when viewing and hearing actions

Re-afference : Seeing your own actions

Thus, strong excitatory connections are developed from STS neurons which respond when an action is observed, to PM neurons which elicit the action. PM neurons become mirror neurons.

Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity A repeatedly fires 40 ms before B A repeatedly fires just after B B repeatedly fires without A firing

PM Generates Action STS Responds to Sight of Action Action 1Action 2Action ms 40 ms

Mirror Neurons for Sensations Somatosensory cortex activated when we see others being touched Similar mechanism for development is proposed No prediction

Mirror Neurons for Emotions Imitation of facial expressions by parents Might be genetically encoded

Thank You!

References Gallese V, Fadiga L, Fogassi L, Rizzolatti G Action recognition in the premotor cortex. Brain 119, 593–609 Caporale N, Dan Y Spike timing-dependent plasticity: a Hebbian learning rule. Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 31, 25–46. Umilta MA, Kohler E, Gallese V, Fogassi L, Fadiga L, Keysers C, Rizzolatti G I know what you are doing: a neurophysiological study. Neuron 31, 155–165.

Keysers C, Gazzola V Hebbian learning and predictive mirror neurons for actions, sensations and emotions. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Keysers C, Gazzola V Hebbian learning and predictive mirror neurons for actions, sensations and emotions. Phil. Trans. R. Soc.