Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

12:33
Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
Published on: December 31, 2013
Apraxia, metaphor and mirror neurons.
Medical Hypotheses
|July 3, 2007
Summary
Ideomotor apraxia, a disorder affecting skilled actions, may stem from mirror neurons in the left inferior parietal lobe. This neural mechanism might also underpin abstract thought and metaphor.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neurology
Background:
- Ideomotor apraxia impairs learned skilled actions despite intact motor function.
- Lesions in the left supramarginal gyrus are linked to bilateral upper limb apraxia.
- Previous theories proposed separate visual-kinaesthetic storage and motor translation functions.
Discussion:
- This study hypothesizes that "mirror neurons" in the left inferior parietal lobe perform complementary functions.
- These mirror neuron chains may integrate visual-kinaesthetic information with motor planning.
- This mechanism in the supramarginal gyrus could be crucial for mapping vision to movement.
Key Insights:
- Mirror neurons in the left inferior parietal lobe are proposed as the neural basis for ideomotor apraxia.
- This neural system may integrate sensory-motor information for skilled action execution.
- The proposed mechanism offers a unified view of apraxia and higher cognitive functions.
Outlook:
- Further research can explore the specific roles of different mirror neuron populations.
- Investigating this mechanism may reveal new therapeutic targets for apraxia.
- The exaptation of this system for abstract thought warrants deeper investigation into its evolutionary significance.
Related Concept Videos
Nonconscious Mimicry
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
Observational Learning
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning because...
Metacognition
Metacognition is a conscious process where individuals are aware of their cognitive and executive processes, such as planning before solving a problem or self-monitoring during reading. For instance, a writer may need help with composing a piece. The situation involves a writer who is working on a piece of writing, but while doing so, they realize that something is missing. They notice that their characters lack depth or details. This realization occurs because the writer is reflecting on their...
Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior
Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
Parallel Processing
The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...
Empathy
Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.

