162k views
5 votes
What is the neural mechanisms for understanding actions and their intentions?

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Mirror neurons are crucial for understanding and mimicking actions, and they may also underpin language development and moral reasoning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The neural mechanisms for understanding actions and their intentions are intricately linked to a network of specialized neurons known as mirror neurons. These neurons not only enable us to mimic the actions of others but are also thought to be fundamental to language development and social understanding.

The action-understanding system in primates is logged within the mirror neuron system, and while invasive neurological studies on humans are not ethical, neuroimaging suggests the existence of a similar system in humans. This network is believed to be connected with our moral judgments and ethical reasoning, potentially rooted in the evolved structure of the human brain, involving regions such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

User Keithx
by
8.3k points