Question

What is a mirror neuron? How do they explain learning in babies? How do they explain learning in adults? If this system is weak in autism, how might it explain the symptoms of autism? (People with Autism have trouble with social skills, empathy, eye contact, learning language, understanding jokes, etc)

Answer 1

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Mirror neurons are a kind of neurons which are present in both animals and human beings and are characterized by activation upon the initiation of a motor skill by the individual or when the individual is observing any other subject and the subject does the motor skill. It must be noted that facial expressions also come under Motor skills as they include flexing of facial muscles. When the language is not developed in the newly born human beings, they depend naturally on this neuron to observe and learn new skills and activities. In adults this year helps in identification of emotions and its basic utilization is in the processing of communication and social cues. People with Autism seem to have underdeveloped mirror neurons which make it difficult for them to process other people's emotions which make it especially hard for them to communicate with the society and understand and comprehend what others are saying.