Mirror Neurons and Empathy

Have you ever found yourself mirroring someone’s behavior or facial expression? Maybe you start to yawn after seeing someone else yawn or feel sadness after seeing a friend cry. This phenomenon can be explained by mirror neurons—specialized brain cells that fire both when we perform a certain action and when we see someone else performing the same action.

Discovered in the 1990s by Italian neuroscientist Giacomo Rizzolatti and his team, mirror neurons have been the subject of much research over the past few decades. They’re found in several areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, the primary motor cortex, and the parietal cortex. While there’s still much to learn about how mirror neurons work, scientists believe that they’re involved in a variety of social processes, including empathy.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It’s what allows us to feel happy when a loved one is happy, or to feel sad when someone we care about is sad. When we see someone else experiencing an emotion, our mirror neurons activate and mimic those same emotions. This enables us to understand how the other person is feeling and respond appropriately. Mirror neurons can be helpful in providing support and comfort, as it allows you to better understand what they’re going through.

It’s worth noting that the relationship between mirror neurons and empathy is still a topic of debate among scientists. While we know HSP’s tend to have more hyperactive mirror neurons and narcissists tend to have less reactive mirror neurons, we don’t yet know if mirror neurons can be increased, decreased, changed, or trained. Also, mirror neurons may not be the sole factor involved in empathy. Other brain regions, such as the insula and anterior cingulate cortex, have also been researched in this process.

Still, there’s no denying that mirror neurons are fascinating and potentially important for understanding empathy. As we continue to learn more about how our brains process social information and emotions, we may uncover new insights into this complex and essential human ability.