Interesting things, those mirror neurons. They’re in our brain, and they fire not only when we do something, but also when we see someone else doing that thing. They’ve been credited with paving the way for language, since they allow us to not only make noise but also perceive when the other person is making noise. They may even provide an evolutionary explanation for human attributes like compassion and empathy, since they allow us to feel the feelings of others.
But mirror neurons may have some not-so-salubrious effects. I have a suspicion that they may contribute to the deplorable discourse we find on the web. Think about it. Some moronic troll appears and acts like an idiot. Now what happens? Everyone’s idiot mirror neurons fire, and the whole discussion deteriorates unless thinking people make a conscious effort. Trenchant humour is a way out of the cycle; it’s just a shame not everyone’s capable of it.
Now a study from UCLA examines the effect of culture on mirror neurons.
When it comes to the influence of culture, the researchers found that the mirror neuron network responds differently depending on whether individuals are looking at someone who shares their culture or someone who doesn’t.
The researchers had two actors — one American, the other Nicaraguan — perform a series of American, Nicaraguan and meaningless hand gestures for a group of American subjects. A procedure called transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure the observers’ levels of corticospinal excitability, which scientists use to gauge the activity of mirror neurons.
Molnar-Szakacs and Iacoboni found that the American observers demonstrated higher mirror neuron activity when observing the American making the gestures — whether they were American, Nicaraguan or meaningless — than when viewing the Nicaraguan. Even when the Nicaraguan actor performed American gestures, the observers’ mirror neuron activity dropped.
At this point, I was thinking, “Why are they calling it ‘culture’? Aren’t their brains just switching off when they see someone with different skin colour?” Apparently not entirely. When Americans watched the Nicaraguan doing Nicaraguan gestures, activity was once again high.
It appears that neural systems supporting memory, empathy and general cognition encode information differently depending on who’s giving the information — a member of one’s own cultural or ethnic in-group or a member of an out-group. Ethnic in-group membership and a culturally learned motor repertoire more strongly influence the brain’s responses to observed actions, specifically actions used in social communication.
“An important conclusion from these results is that culture has a measurable influence on our brain and, as a result, our behavior. Researchers need to take this into consideration when drawing conclusions about brain function and human behavior,” said Molnar-Szakacs.
It’s good to be aware of how deep this in-group out-group stuff can go.
13 August 2007 at 5:55 pm
I wonder if you could do the same study with “family members” Vs. Non family members within the same culture/subculture? I’d be interested to see if there is a genetic precondition to give more learning/observing credit to mom and dad than other humans.
13 August 2007 at 9:17 pm
That’s interesting – I believe one of the original bits of research around mirror neurons was to do with emotions – so if we see someone crying or hurt, our mirror neurons fire – thus the origin of compassion, for example. If the effect is lessened through non-familiarity, particularly if it’s racial or cultural (clothing) etc. then that might explain why in warfare people can tolerate other’s pain and suffering with apparent indifference.
Which supports my feeling that peace will only arise as a function of non-discrimination.
14 August 2007 at 1:45 am
Yes, and that’s going to take some conscious effort. We have to overcome some things that are pretty deeply embedded.
Some people don’t care, of course. Why bother overcoming our natural tendency toward, say, racism? And these people will find many willing to pander to their fear. The current Republican immigration scare, for example.