Mirror Neurons

            As known, the brain consists of neurons. With every move we make, our motor command neurons in the motor cortex fire making contact with other neurons in order for the rest of our bodies to function properly. But what neurons in the brain actually fire when we are doing nothing? By simply observing other people engage in normal day to day acts our mirror neurons located in the frontal lobe fire. Giving us the sensation that we are performing the exact same act without even realizing it. According to a neuroscientist “V.S. Ramachandran,” he explains two types of mirror neurons. Firstly, by observing a person doing something, these mirror neurons fire giving us the sensation that we are actually learning or mimicking the same exact act without even realizing it. An observation activate’s the neurons in our brain as if it was ourselves engaging in that action. Second, another type of mirror neurons is empathy neurons. These neurons allows us to feel what other people are feeling. Emotions include sadness, happiness, fear.. and so forth. These neurons also fire when observing a person touching another person. In our brain we could actually feel that sense of touch under our skin as if it was happening to us.
 

I found this topic to be very interesting. Mirror neurons play an important role in self-awareness and self conscious. It allows us to view ourselves as how others might also view us since, we feel empathy with other people. Humans as well as animals learn overtime to engage in certain acts, evolutionary might include acts of survival.During the developing phase of children, they mirror the actions of their parents and start to learn. Mirror neurons are also important for children with Autism disorder.

http://www.dnalc.org/view/852-Mirror-Neurons-and-Empathy.html