Giacomo Rizolatti - Mirror Neurons

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 - for example the ease of interpretation of pointing gestures vs. the symbolic and arbitrary nature of sounds for the initial development of language.

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The discovery of mirror neurons
The discovery of mirror neurons
The discovery of mirror neurons
The discovery of mirror neurons
Initial reaction
Initial reaction
Mirror neurons - from monkeys to humans
Mirror neurons - from monkeys to humans
Homology
Homology
Counting neurons
Counting neurons
Anatomy of mirror system pathways
Anatomy of mirror system pathways
Understanding actions of others
Understanding actions of others
Understanding actions of others
Understanding actions of others
Two ways of understanding
Two ways of understanding
Observation and skill learning
Observation and skill learning
An emotional mirror mechanism
An emotional mirror mechanism
An emotional mirror mechanism
An emotional mirror mechanism
Modulation of emotional responses
Modulation of emotional responses
Critics of mirror neuron research
Critics of mirror neuron research
Critics of mirror neuron mechanisms
Critics of mirror neuron mechanisms
Mirror neurons and their role in the evolution of language
Mirror neurons and their role in the evolution of language
The evolution of language from gestures
The evolution of language from gestures
The mirror mechanism and autism
The mirror mechanism and autism
Autism and the mirror system
Autism and the mirror system
The processing of intentions in autistic children
The processing of intentions in autistic children
Neurorehabilitation
Neurorehabilitation
Application of mirror mechanisms in neurorehabilitation
Application of mirror mechanisms in neurorehabilitation