Hebbian Learning is about contingency, not contiguity, and explains the emergence of predictive mirror neurons
Christian Keysers1, David I Perrett2, Valeria Gazzola3
1Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, KNAW, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.keysers@nin.knaw.nl http://www.nin.knaw.nl/research_groups/keysers_group v.gazzola@nin.knaw.nl http://www.nin.knaw.nl/research_groups/keysers_group/team/valeria_gazzola.
Abstract:
Hebbian Learning should not be reduced to contiguity, as it detects contingency and causality. Hebbian Learning accounts of mirror neurons make predictions that differ from associative learning: Through Hebbian Learning, mirror neurons become dynamic networks that calculate predictions and prediction errors and relate to ideomotor theories. The social force of imitation is important for mirror neuron emergence and suggests canalization.
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