Editing Nervous system (section)

===Mirror neurons===
{{Main|Mirror neuron}}
A [[mirror neuron]] is a neuron that [[action potential|fires]] both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another.<ref name="RizzolattiCraighero2004">{{Cite journal |last1=Rizzolatti |first1=Giacomo |last2=Craighero |first2=Laila |year=2004 |title=The mirror-neuron system |journal=Annual Review of Neuroscience |volume=27 |pages=169–192 |url=http://www.kuleuven.be/mirrorneuronsystem/readinglist/Rizzolatti%20&%20Craighero%202004%20-%20The%20MNS%20-%20ARN.pdf |doi=10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144230 |pmid=15217330|s2cid=1729870 }}</ref><ref name="Keysers 2009">{{Cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2009.08.026 |last=Keysers |first=Christian |year=2010 |title=Mirror Neurons |journal=Current Biology |volume=19 |issue=21 |pages=R971–973 |url=http://www.bcn-nic.nl/txt/people/publications/2009_Keysers_CurrentBiology.pdf |pmid=19922849 |s2cid=12668046 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119224448/http://www.bcn-nic.nl/txt/people/publications/2009_Keysers_CurrentBiology.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="EmpathicBrain">{{cite book |last=Keysers |first=Christian |title=The Empathic Brain |url=https://www.facebook.com/theempathicbrain |date=2011-06-23 |publisher=Kindle}}</ref> Thus, the neuron "mirrors" the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting. Such neurons have been directly observed in [[primate]] species.<ref name="architalbiol.org">{{Cite journal |last1=Rizzolatti |first1=Giacomo |last2=Fadiga |first2=Luciano |year=1999 |title=Resonance Behaviors and Mirror Neurons |journal=Italiennes de Biologie |volume=137 |issue=2–3 |pages=85–100 |pmid=10349488 |url=http://www.architalbiol.org/aib/article/view/575/532}}</ref> Birds have been shown to have imitative resonance behaviors and neurological evidence suggests the presence of some form of mirroring system.<ref name="architalbiol.org"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Akins |first1=Chana |last2=Klein |first2=Edward |year=2002 |title=Imitative Learning in Japanese Quail using Bidirectional Control Procedure |journal=Animal Learning & Behavior |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=275–281 |doi=10.3758/bf03192836 |pmid=12391793 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In humans, brain activity consistent with that of mirror neurons has been found in the [[premotor cortex]], the [[supplementary motor area]], the [[primary somatosensory cortex]] and the [[parietal lobe|inferior parietal cortex]].<ref name="Molenberghs P, Cunnington R, Mattingley J 975–980">{{cite journal |vauthors=Molenberghs P, Cunnington R, Mattingley J |title=Is the mirror neuron system involved in imitation? A short review and meta-analysis. |journal=Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=975–980 |date=July 2009 |doi=10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.03.010 |pmid=19580913 |s2cid=25620637|url=https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/d8f4e6d1-41d6-4646-9012-2b7b39c8f89d }}</ref> The function of the mirror system is a subject of much speculation. Many researchers in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive psychology consider that this system provides the physiological mechanism for the perception/action coupling (see the [[common coding theory]]).<ref name="EmpathicBrain"/> They argue that mirror neurons may be important for understanding the actions of other people, and for learning new skills by imitation. Some researchers also speculate that mirror systems may simulate observed actions, and thus contribute to [[theory of mind]] skills,<ref>{{cite web |first1=Christian |last1=Keysers |first2=Valeria |last2=Gazzola |title=Progress in Brain Research |year=2006 |url=http://www.bcn-nic.nl/txt/people/publications/keysersgazzolapbr.pdf |publisher=Bcn-nic.nl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630021020/http://www.bcn-nic.nl/txt/people/publications/keysersgazzolapbr.pdf |archive-date=30 June 2007}}</ref><ref>Michael Arbib, ''[http://www.interdisciplines.org/coevolution/papers/11 The Mirror System Hypothesis. Linking Language to Theory of Mind] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329093003/http://www.interdisciplines.org/coevolution/papers/11 |date=29 March 2009 }}'', 2005, retrieved 2006-02-17</ref> while others relate mirror neurons to [[language]] abilities.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Théoret |first1=Hugo |last2=Pascual-Leone |first2=Alvaro |title=Language Acquisition: Do as You Hear |journal=Current Biology |volume=12 |issue=21 |pages=R736–R737 |year=2002 |pmid=12419204 |doi=10.1016/S0960-9822(02)01251-4 |s2cid=12867585 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2002CBio...12.R736T }}</ref> However, to date, no widely accepted neural or computational models have been put forward to describe how mirror neuron activity supports cognitive functions such as imitation.<ref name=Dinstein>{{cite journal |journal=Curr Biol |year=2008 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=R13–R18 |title=A mirror up to nature |vauthors=Dinstein I, Thomas C, Behrmann M, Heeger DJ |pmid=18177704 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2007.11.004 |pmc=2517574|bibcode=2008CBio...18..R13D }}</ref> There are neuroscientists who caution that the claims being made for the role of mirror neurons are not supported by adequate research.<ref name="ncbi.nlm.nih.gov">{{cite journal |last=Hickok |first=G. |title=Eight Problems for the Mirror Neuron Theory of Action Understanding in Monkeys and Humans |journal=Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience |date=21 July 2009 |volume=21 |issue=7 |pages=1229–1243 |pmc=2773693 |pmid=19199415 |doi=10.1162/jocn.2009.21189}}</ref><ref name="else.econ.ucl.ac.uk">{{cite web |last=Heyes |first=Cecilia |title=Where do mirror neurons come from? |work=Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews |year=2009 |url=http://else.econ.ucl.ac.uk/papers/uploaded/362.pdf |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426062918/http://else.econ.ucl.ac.uk/papers/uploaded/362.pdf |archive-date=26 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>