Meet Jake. He’s got a big, cheerful smile because he’s on BrainCraft, and his shirt is covered in a fun design. If you find yourself smiling too, it’s not just because of his charm. We often copy each other’s facial expressions, body language, and even the way we speak, usually without even realizing it.
Back in 1992, scientists were studying the brains of macaque monkeys. They found something fascinating: a group of neurons that activated not only when the monkey did something, like grabbing a peanut, but also when it watched someone else doing the same thing. They named these “mirror neurons” because they seemed to “reflect” the actions of others, even though the monkeys weren’t doing those actions themselves.
It turns out that humans have mirror neurons too. In one experiment, people were shown faces with happy, angry, or neutral expressions for just 30 milliseconds—too quick for them to consciously notice. Even so, those who saw a happy face had increased activity in the muscles used for smiling, while those who saw an angry face activated muscles used for frowning.
Scientists believe that we mimic others’ behaviors and expressions to understand their emotions and learn by copying them. In another study, participants were asked to chew gum or hold a pencil in their teeth, which made it hard for them to mimic facial expressions. This difficulty affected their ability to recognize emotions like happiness.
Mirror neurons might not just be about copying movements; they could be linked to our feelings too. In a recent study, people watched videos of a hand in either cold or warm water. When they watched the cold water video, their own hands got colder. This was called “temperature contagion.” The effect was stronger in people who were more empathetic, but it’s still unclear if mirror neurons were responsible.
Some neuroscientists are skeptical about the mirror neuron theory, thinking it might be overused to explain too much. While research is ongoing, we do know that we tend to mimic what we see—from smiling to even feeling cold without a real temperature change. It’s a classic case of “monkey see, monkey do.”
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Imagine you’re a scientist discovering mirror neurons for the first time. Create a short skit with your classmates to demonstrate how these neurons work in both monkeys and humans. Use props and expressions to make it engaging, and explain the concept to your audience.
Pair up with a classmate and take turns showing different facial expressions, such as happiness, anger, or surprise. The other person must mimic the expression as quickly as possible. Discuss how it felt to mimic and whether it helped you understand the emotion better.
Conduct a simple experiment by watching short video clips that evoke different emotions. Record your physical reactions, such as smiling or frowning, and discuss whether you felt the emotions of the characters. Reflect on how mirror neurons might play a role in this experience.
Watch videos of hands in cold and warm water, then measure your hand temperature before and after each video. Compare results with classmates to see if there’s a pattern. Discuss whether you think mirror neurons could be involved in this phenomenon.
Split into two groups and hold a debate on the role of mirror neurons in human behavior. One group will argue in favor of their importance, while the other will present skepticism. Use evidence from the article and other sources to support your arguments.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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This is Jake. He has a particularly cheerful expression because he’s appearing on BrainCraft, and his shirt is covered in a fun design. If you find yourself smiling too, it’s not just his charm. We often mimic each other’s facial expressions, posture, and elements of speech, mostly without realizing it.
Back in 1992, researchers studied the activity of single neurons in the brain of the macaque monkey. They discovered a system of neurons that fired both when the monkey performed an action—like grabbing a peanut—and when it observed a researcher doing the same. The researchers called this system “mirror neurons” because the neurons “reflected” a behavior, even though the monkeys weren’t performing that behavior themselves.
And “mirror neurons” aren’t just found in monkeys; there’s evidence for this system in human brains as well. In one study, human participants were shown a face with either a happy, angry, or neutral expression, but only for 30 milliseconds. The expressive faces weren’t on the screen long enough for the participants to consciously notice, so they had no idea they were being subconsciously exposed to them. Still, those shown the happy face exhibited increased electrical activity in the muscles needed to smile, while those shown the angry face activated the muscles needed to mimic the angry expression.
It’s thought that we mirror behaviors and facial expressions to help us understand the emotional states of others and learn by imitation. In another study, researchers impaired participants’ ability to mimic faces by having them chew gum or hold a pencil between their teeth. This impairment affected their ability to recognize certain emotional expressions, like happiness.
So, this mirror neuron system isn’t only connected to our movements; it may also be linked to our feelings. In a recent study, participants were shown videos of a hand in either visibly cold or warm water. While watching the cold water video, the participants’ hands dropped in temperature. Researchers referred to this phenomenon as “temperature contagion.” The drop in temperature was more noticeable in participants who reported higher levels of empathy, but it’s unclear if this was caused by mirror neurons.
Some neuroscientists are skeptical of the mirror neuron theory, suggesting it has been overgeneralized. While research into the role of neurons in imitation is ongoing, we do know that we’re inclined to mimic what we observe—from smiling to the point where we can “catch a cold” without actually experiencing a change in temperature. It really is a case of “monkey see, monkey do.”
And if you don’t already, subscribe to BrainCraft! New episodes are released every Thursday.
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This version maintains the core content while removing any informal or potentially distracting elements.
Emotions – Feelings that are experienced in response to thoughts, events, or situations, often involving physiological changes. – When she received the award, her emotions were a mix of surprise and joy.
Neurons – Cells in the brain and nervous system that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals. – Neurons communicate with each other to help us think, feel, and move.
Mimic – To imitate or copy someone’s actions or behaviors, often to understand or learn from them. – Babies often mimic the facial expressions of adults to learn about emotions.
Expressions – Visible signs of emotions or thoughts, often shown through facial movements. – Her expressions changed rapidly as she watched the thrilling movie.
Happiness – A state of well-being and contentment, often considered a positive emotion. – Spending time with friends brings her a great sense of happiness.
Empathy – The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. – Showing empathy can help strengthen friendships and resolve conflicts.
Behaviors – The actions or reactions of a person, often in response to external or internal stimuli. – Positive behaviors, like helping others, can improve the mood of everyone involved.
Temperature – A measure of how hot or cold something is, which can affect mood and behavior. – The high temperature in the room made it difficult for students to concentrate.
Smiling – The act of turning up the corners of the mouth, often as an expression of happiness or friendliness. – Smiling at someone can make both you and the other person feel better.
Frowning – The act of furrowing the brow and turning down the corners of the mouth, often as an expression of displeasure or concentration. – He was frowning as he tried to solve the difficult math problem.
