The Processing of Intentions in Autistic Children |
Dr. Giacomo Rizzolatti explains that a motor act (e.g., picking up chocolate with the intention of eating it) elicits two types of information: (1) the goal and (2) the intention underlying it. Children with autism are able to realize these two... |
Giacomo Rizzolatti |
goCognitive |
00:04:54 |
Mirror Neurons: From Monkeys to Humans |
Dr. Giacomo Rizzolatti explains how he discovered mirror neurons in humans. Once he discovered the existence of mirror neurons in monkeys, he decided to investigate if the same mechanisms existed in humans and found that they are, in fact, present.... |
Giacomo Rizzolatti |
goCognitive |
00:07:24 |
The Evolution of Language from Gestures |
Together with Dr. Michael Arbib, Dr. Rizzolatti published an interesting account of the evolution of language from gestures instead of the more commonly associated calls of animals. He provides a number of arguments in favor of this hypothesis -... |
Giacomo Rizzolatti |
goCognitive |
00:07:39 |
Autism |
One of the research areas that the identification of a mirror mechanism has inspired is autism research. Autism is a neurological disorder that is characterized by an impaired ability to process social cues, as well as a delay of motor... |
Giacomo Rizzolatti |
goCognitive |
00:05:47 |
Initial Reaction |
The original paper about mirror neurons was initially rejected by a top scientific journal for lack of broad interest. When it published in another journal, the reception was extremely positive and widespread. Dr. Rizzolatti discusses some of the... |
Giacomo Rizzolatti |
goCognitive |
00:03:19 |