Zrcalni neuroni i njihova potencijalna uloga u psihopatologiji

Abstract

Mirror neurons represent a population of neurons discovered by accident in the ventral premotor cortex of the macaca monkeys (Macaca nemistrina and Macaca mulatta), but a consensus is yet to be made on whether they exist in the human brain because of several technical and bioethical difficulties in mirror neuron research on human subjects. Mirror neurons are characterized by activation during an execution, but also during an observation of an action performed by another individual. Electrophysiological patterns of brain function mirror those of an actual execution of the action. Potential roles of mirror neurons include a wide spectrum of cognitive and emotional actions and processes such as the understanding of meaning and intention of an observed action, learning by imitation, empathy, forming of the “mind theory”, as well as language learning and comprehension. Its potential role in empathy is especially interesting. Due to the significant role of empathy dysfunction in the basis of antisocial personality disorder and the disorders of the autistic spectrum, it was intuitively hypothesized that mirror neurons might have a role in the pathophysiology of these disorders. Current research have yet to give adequate support for such hypotheses.