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Reflections on mirror neurons and speech perception.

Andrew J Lotto1, Gregory S Hickok, Lori L Holt

  • 1Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona, 1131 E. 2nd Street, P.O. Box 210071, Tucson, AZ 85721-0071, USA.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|February 19, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mirror neurons, which activate during action and observation, were thought to support the Motor Theory (MT) of speech perception. However, this study argues mirror neurons are inconsistent with MT, challenging their role in speech communication.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • Mirror neurons activate both during action execution and observation of the same action.
  • The Motor Theory (MT) of speech perception posits a direct link between action and perception.
  • Mirror neurons have been proposed to support the MT due to their action-perception mapping capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the purported support of mirror neurons for the Motor Theory of speech perception.
  • To investigate the theoretical and empirical inconsistencies between mirror neuron function and MT tenets.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis of mirror neuron properties.
  • Empirical review of studies on mirror neurons and speech perception.
  • Conceptual comparison between mirror neuron mechanisms and MT principles.

Main Results:

  • The apparent one-to-one mapping between perception and action for mirror neurons is superficial.
  • Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests limitations to mirror neurons' role in speech perception.
  • Mirror neurons exhibit properties inconsistent with the core principles of the Motor Theory.

Conclusions:

  • Mirror neurons do not provide empirical support for the Motor Theory of speech perception.
  • The initial enthusiasm for mirror neurons validating MT is unwarranted.
  • Further research is needed to understand the true function of mirror neurons in communication, separate from MT.