Mirror Neuron Activity is No Proof for Action Understanding

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8 (333), 1-4

4 Pages Posted: 24 May 2014

See all articles by Alina Steinhorst

Alina Steinhorst

Heidelberg University - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies

Joachim Funke

University of Heidelberg - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies, Department of Psychology

Date Written: May 23, 2014

Abstract

We focus on the thesis that action understanding is a function of the mirror neuron system. According to our opinion, understanding is a process that runs through hermeneutic circles from the “Vorverständnis” (“previous understanding”) to steps of deeper understanding. Our critique relates to the narrow neuroscientific definition of action understanding as the capacity to recognize several movements as belonging to one action. After a reconstruction of the model's developments, we will challenge the claims of the model by Rizzolatti and Sinigaglia (2010). By analyzing the relation between the experimental results and its interpretation, we will conclude that there is no proof that mirror neuron activity leads to action understanding.

Keywords: mirror neurons, action understanding

JEL Classification: C91, Z00

Suggested Citation

Steinhorst, Alina and Funke, Joachim, Mirror Neuron Activity is No Proof for Action Understanding (May 23, 2014). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8 (333), 1-4, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2441119

Alina Steinhorst

Heidelberg University - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies ( email )

Dekanat
Voßstr. 2
Heidelberg, D-69115
Germany

Joachim Funke (Contact Author)

University of Heidelberg - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies, Department of Psychology ( email )

Hauptstr. 47
Heidelberg, D-69117
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de

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