镜像神经元系统的研究回顾及展望

镜像神经元系统的发现使得研究者从一个较为统一的神经机制层面了解人类多个层次的社会认知活动。在猕猴大脑F5区发现的镜像神经元可以在抽象的层面上帮助猕猴理解他人行为的意图。利用脑成像技术，研究发现人类的镜像神经元系统能够匹配外界的知觉表征和内在的动作表征从而通过“居身模仿”这一过程来进行模仿、语言理解、理解他人的意图及情绪这些重要的社会认知活动。另外，镜像神经元系统在社会交往中也起着重要作用，最后，就镜像神经元系统在心理理论中的作用、了解自我-他人问题和镜像神经元系统的关系、动机、经验等因素对镜像神经元系统活动的调控等问题对未来的研究方向进行了展望

Mirror Neuron System: Retrospect and Prospect

The finding of mirror neuron system engenders researchers to understand human beings’ various domains of social cognition from a unifying neural mechanism. Mirror neurons in macaques’ F5 area enabled them to decipher others’ goal-directed action at an abstract level. Using brain imaging techniques, it has been found that the human beings’ mirror neuron system could map the observation of external action on internal motor representation, which warrants human beings to conduct social activities like imitation, language comprehension, understanding others’ intentions as well as emotions via embodied simulation. Moreover, MNS has been evidenced to play a vital role in social interaction. Finally, several possible directions for future researches are discussed: the function of MNS underlying theory of mind, relations between self-other question and MNS, the influence of factors like experience and motivation on the activity of MNS