• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.517-551
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• 2012

We are imitating animals. True imitation can be defined as a learning to do an act from seeing it done by others. We have been building culture by imitating others' skills and knowledge with high fidelity. In this regard, it is important to ask how the faculty of imitation has evolved and how imitation behaviors develop ontogenetically. It is also interesting to see whether nonhuman animals can imitate truly or not and how different imitation learning is among human and non-human animals. In this paper, first I review empirical data from imitation studies with human and nonhuman animals. Comparing different species, I highlight their different levels of copying fidelity and explain the reason why they are showing the difference. Then I review recent studies on neurobiological mechanisms underlying imitation. The initial neurobiological studies on imitation in humans suggested a core imitation circuitry composed of mirror neuron system [inferior parietal lobule(IPL) and inferior frontal gyrus(IFG)] and the posterior part of the superior temporal sulcus(pSTS). More recent studies on the neurobiology of imitation, however, has gone beyond the studies on the core mechanisms. Finally, I try to find out implications of psychology and biology of imitation for cultural evolution. I argue for a memetic approach to cultural evolution, along the lines with a recent study on measuring memes by mirror neurons system.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.109-123
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• 2013

The discovery of the mirror neuron system (MNS) is one of the most important neuroscientific achievements in the 20th century. Some researchers had reported that MNS dysfunction was discovered in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Finally, the 'broken mirror' theory of ASD was announced in the mid 2000's. According to this theory, ASD cannot simulate the mind and behavior of others due to MNS dysfunction; therefore, they cannot imitate the behaviors and empathized with the mind of others. However, ASD does not always show imitation problems. The researchers who have criticized the 'broken mirror' theory proposed the 'social top-down response modulation (STORM)' theory. On STORM theory, the medial prefrontal cortex or temporo-parietal junction, brain areas related with mentalising, might modulate MNS according to social context. We compared the strengths and weaknesses of each theory.

• 건강소식
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.10-11
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• 2012

아기를 보고 웃으면 아기도 따라 웃는다. 앞에서 누군가가 하품을 하거나 활짝 웃으면 옆 사람도 이내 따라 한다. 이런 현상은 우리 뇌의 '미러 뉴런(Mirror Neuron, 거울 신경세포)'에 의한 것이라고 한다. 미러 뉴런이란 '보는 대로 따라 하는 신경'으로 불리는데 남의 행동을 모방하도록 하는 우리 두뇌 안의 신경세포다. 그렇다면 미러 뉴런을 다이어트에 활용해보자. 유명인들의 다이어트 성공담을 들으면, '나도 ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$처럼 완벽한 몸매를 가질 수 있어'라며 나의 미로 뉴런이 반응해 금세 따라하고 싶어질 것이다.