Hierarchically organized mirroring processes in social cognition

the functional neuroanatomy of empathy

Jaime A. Pineda

A. W. Moore

pp. 135-160

in: Jaime A. Pineda (ed), Mirror neuron systems, New York City, Humana Press, 2009

Abstract

Mirroring-like processes occur at all levels of information processing in the central nervous system, producing a gradient of faculties that vary in complexity from stimulus enhancement, response facilitation, emotional contagion, mimicry, simulation, and emulation to imitation, empathy, and theory of mind. These processes reflect the range of mechanisms for organizing the hierarchical representations of information. Many of these processes occur in other species and thus there is evidence for phylogenetic continuity. The organizational structure of mirroring is more functional than anatomical in that it is dynamic and modifiable at the level of the individual. Furthermore, the increased interconnectivity and complexity of the human brain provides the substrate for more complex forms of mirroring, such as empathy. Hence, in the pathways from perception to action, mirroring provides the foundational basis for social cognition.