tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post7620696541496136002..comments2024-03-28T09:41:15.454-05:00Comments on Deric's MindBlog: The Myth of Mirror Neurons?Deric Bowndshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16617204535017208765noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-7566431297548751162007-05-02T10:49:00.001-05:002007-05-02T10:49:00.001-05:00Our mirror neurons don't have to look different fr...Our mirror neurons don't have to look different from monkey neurons to deserve being cast in a lead role for what distinguishes human brains. 1) It's not what you have, but what you do with it (e.g. A,C,G & T in the chromosomes), 2) Initially subtle and hard-to-discern differences nevertheless may be crucial (e.g. A,C,G & T in the chromosomes) & 3) explaining is subjective, selective and depends as much on the vehicle and the audience as it does on objective "ground truths" (e.g. it's hard to center a love story around a transcription factor, even though some fans will never forgive you).MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02341704109256270557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-79898006538123367532007-05-01T03:29:00.000-05:002007-05-01T03:29:00.000-05:00I agree with the idea that the role of mirror neur...I agree with the idea that the role of mirror neurons is probably insightful for explaining some of the basic aspects of social life but also has led to some theoretical shortcomings. For instance, some authors are using the MNs to sustain the thesis of simulation theory in the so called 'theory of mind' polemic. IMHO, it is time to apprehend such complex phenomenons as theory of mind, mutual modeling and empathy in a more sophisticated way that integrates different macro models (theory theory + simulation theory...) and micro-level data (mirror neurons). <BR/><BR/>Sometimes the never ending polemics between extreme positions in research traditions despair efficiency and give birth to more sterile debates than prolific and useful contributions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-69510851346912641342007-04-30T10:05:00.000-05:002007-04-30T10:05:00.000-05:00You're right. She should not have said 'they don'...You're right. She should not have said 'they don't have culture'...by de Waal's definition of culture they certainly do. However, that does not have to imply that they understand other animal's minds.<BR/><BR/>I guess Gopnik's main point is that the similar data obtained on monkey and human brains is sometimes offered as an explanation for human capabilities that monkey's don't have. Many proponents of generous interpretations of mirror neuron data do make the caveat that the data suggest a rudimentary foundation on which more advanced capabilities are built.Deric Bowndshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16617204535017208765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-64117947735592785402007-04-30T08:29:00.000-05:002007-04-30T08:29:00.000-05:00I'm surprised to read the statement 'The trouble i...I'm surprised to read the statement 'The trouble is that macaque monkeys don't have language, they don't have culture, and they don't understand other animals' minds.' I think this statement is probably incorrect.<BR/><BR/>There is a fairly classical example of the Macaques on Koshima islet. One of the Macaques invented the technique of washing sweet potatoes in the river before eating them. The behaviour quickly spread, firstly horizontally amongst the monkey's peer group, then vertically amongst the rest of the group.<BR/><BR/>http://www.springerlink.com/content/h191628m5u23g7jt/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com