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

Nonconscious Mimicry01:13

Nonconscious Mimicry

3.6K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
3.6K
Facial Feedback Hypothesis01:24

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

953
Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
953
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

1.3K
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
1.3K
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

27.6K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
27.6K
Parallel Processing01:20

Parallel Processing

950
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...
950
Observational Learning01:12

Observational Learning

1.5K
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...
1.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Body synchrony in triadic interaction.

Royal Society open science·2020
Same author

Preferences and constraints: the value of economic games for studying human behaviour.

Royal Society open science·2020
Same author

Irrelevant-action imitation is short-term and contextual: Evidence from two under-studied populations.

Developmental science·2019
Same author

Community hygiene norm violators are consistently stigmatized: Evidence from four global sites and implications for sanitation interventions.

Social science & medicine (1982)·2018
Same author

General trust impedes perception of self-reported primary psychopathy in thin slices of social interaction.

PloS one·2018
Same author

Seeing the elephant: Parsimony, functionalism, and the emergent design of contempt and other sentiments.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2017

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

942

Evolution after mirror neurons: tapping the shared manifold through secondary adaptation.

Matthew M Gervais1

  • 1Department of Anthropology, Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095. mgervais@ucla.edu https://sites.google.com/site/matthewmgervais/

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|April 30, 2014
PubMed
Summary

This study critiques the evolutionary framework used to study mirror neuron development. It highlights overlooked evidence for mirror neurons in evolved biological and cultural traits.

More Related Videos

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
12:33

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

10.6K
Visualizing Visual Adaptation
04:43

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Published on: April 24, 2017

8.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

942
Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
12:33

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

10.6K
Visualizing Visual Adaptation
04:43

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Published on: April 24, 2017

8.6K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Mirror neurons are crucial for social cognition and action understanding.
  • Previous research on mirror neuron development has limitations.
  • Comparative research is needed to understand their evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the evolutionary framework used in mirror neuron research.
  • To identify limitations in distinguishing ultimate and proximate causes.
  • To highlight evidence for mirror neuron development in evolved traits.

Main Methods:

  • Critical analysis of existing evolutionary frameworks.
  • Review of empirical evidence on mirror neuron development.
  • Comparative analysis of biological and cultural traits.

Main Results:

  • The evolutionary framework in Cook et al. is insufficient.
  • Ultimate and proximate causes require clearer distinction.
  • Evidence for mirror neuron development is present in evolved traits.

Conclusions:

  • A more robust evolutionary framework is needed for mirror neuron research.
  • Mirror neurons are integral to evolved biological and cultural systems.
  • Future research should consider reciprocal evolutionary influences.