Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Nervous Tissue: Neuron Types01:19

Nervous Tissue: Neuron Types

7.7K
Neurons, the fundamental units of the nervous system, can be classified based on both their structural and functional characteristics.
Structurally, neurons are categorized into three main types: multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar (or pseudounipolar). Multipolar neurons, which are the most common type in the brain and spinal cord, as well as all motor neurons, possess multiple dendrites and a single axon.
Bipolar neurons, on the other hand, have one primary dendrite and one axon. They are...
7.7K
Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions01:30

Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions

6.0K
The diencephalon, etymologically translated as 'through brain,' plays an integral role as the conduit between the cerebrum and the vast extent of the nervous system. However, the olfactory system is an exception, as it interfaces directly with the cerebrum. The diencephalon, deeply ensconced beneath the cerebrum, primarily consists of three paired structures — the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithelamus. It also includes accessory structures such as the subthalamus, which houses the...
6.0K
Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

4.9K
The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological...
4.9K
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

8.8K
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
8.8K
Vision01:24

Vision

48.6K
Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
48.6K
Functions of the Nervous System01:18

Functions of the Nervous System

8.0K
The nervous system is responsible for coordinating and regulating the body's functions. It functions through three main processes: sensory, integrative, and motor processes. Sensory function involves the detection and transmission of information about internal and external stimuli from sensory receptors to the CNS. The CNS processes this information through an integrative function, where it interprets and makes decisions based on the incoming sensory information. Finally, the motor function...
8.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Violating statistical structure impairs detection of deviant and incidental events.

iScience·2026
Same author

Evidence for Cardiac Phase-Linked Perception of Heartbeats.

Psychophysiology·2026
Same author

Individuals with aphantasia show independent impairments in face perception and face memory, but not face matching.

Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior·2026
Same author

Refinements of the phase adjustment task (PAT 2.0).

Frontiers in psychology·2026
Same author

Individual Differences in Heartbeat-Tone Synchronicity Judgments Suggest the Two-Alternative Heartbeat Detection Task Is a Poor Test of Cardiac Interoceptive Accuracy and Insight.

Psychophysiology·2026
Same author

Mentalising impairments in somatic symptom and functional neurological disorders: A systematic review.

Journal of psychosomatic research·2026
Same journal

Are language models models?

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026
Same journal

Large language models illuminate the mechanistic underpinnings of the creative aspect of language use (CALU), long regarded as a mystery.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026
Same journal

LLMs as a platform for studying constraint interaction: Motivation and challenges.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026
Same journal

Beyond the data gap: Children create languages, violate their input statistics, and exhibit critical periods.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026
Same journal

Not-so-strange love: Language models and generative linguistic theories are more compatible than they appear.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026
Same journal

Rich data drive generalization: Lessons from machine learning for linguistics and cognitive science.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Cell Lineage Analyses and Gene Function Studies Using Twin-spot MARCM
06:30

Cell Lineage Analyses and Gene Function Studies Using Twin-spot MARCM

Published on: March 2, 2017

9.4K

Mirror neurons: from origin to function.

Richard Cook1, Geoffrey Bird2, Caroline Catmur3

  • 1Department of Psychology, City University London, London EC1R 0JD, United Kingdom. richard.cook.1@city.ac.uk http://www.city.ac.uk/people/academics/richard-cook.

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|April 30, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mirror neurons, found in monkeys and humans, are shaped by associative learning, not solely genetic adaptation. This challenges their evolutionary purpose and suggests new research approaches focusing on development and training.

More Related Videos

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision
05:07

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Published on: June 13, 2019

11.0K
Targeted Labeling of Neurons in a Specific Functional Micro-domain of the Neocortex by Combining Intrinsic Signal and Two-photon Imaging
11:24

Targeted Labeling of Neurons in a Specific Functional Micro-domain of the Neocortex by Combining Intrinsic Signal and Two-photon Imaging

Published on: December 12, 2012

12.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Cell Lineage Analyses and Gene Function Studies Using Twin-spot MARCM
06:30

Cell Lineage Analyses and Gene Function Studies Using Twin-spot MARCM

Published on: March 2, 2017

9.4K
Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision
05:07

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Published on: June 13, 2019

11.0K
Targeted Labeling of Neurons in a Specific Functional Micro-domain of the Neocortex by Combining Intrinsic Signal and Two-photon Imaging
11:24

Targeted Labeling of Neurons in a Specific Functional Micro-domain of the Neocortex by Combining Intrinsic Signal and Two-photon Imaging

Published on: December 12, 2012

12.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Mirror neurons, discovered in monkeys and present in humans, fire both during action execution and observation.
  • The prevailing view posits mirror neurons as a genetic adaptation for action understanding and socio-cognitive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the evolutionary adaptation theory of mirror neurons.
  • To propose that mirror neurons originate from sensorimotor associative learning during individual development.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing evidence on mirror neuron properties.
  • Evaluation of associative learning principles in relation to mirror neuron function.
  • Consideration of developmental sensorimotor experience and training effects.

Main Results:

  • Mirror neurons do not consistently encode action goals.
  • Associative learning explains the observed properties of mirror neurons.
  • Sensorimotor training can significantly alter mirror neuron function.

Conclusions:

  • Mirror neurons are likely forged by domain-general associative learning processes.
  • Their specific evolutionary purpose or adaptive function is not guaranteed.
  • Future research should prioritize developmental history, system-level theory, and empirical experimentation.