Mirror neuron system involvement in empathy: A critical look at the evidence
Abstract
It has been proposed that the human mirror neuron system (MNS) plays an integral role in mediating empathy. In this review, we critically examine evidence from three bodies of research that have been cited as supporting this notion: (1) behavioral studies that have examined the relationship between imitation and empathy, (2) findings from functional neuroimaging studies that report a positive correlation between MNS activation and self-report on an empathy questionnaire, and (3) observations of impaired imitation and empathy in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, we briefly review lesion studies of the neural correlates of imitation and empathy. Current evidence suggests that the MNS is broadly involved in empathy, but at this stage there has been limited consideration of its various forms, including motor, emotional, and cognitive empathy. There are also various forms of imitation, encompassing emotional and non-emotional, automatic, and voluntary actions. We propose that the relationship between imitation and empathy may vary depending on the specific type of each of these abilities. Furthermore, these abilities may be mediated by partially distinct neural networks, which involve the MNS to a variable degree.
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The literature currently lacks a specific meta-analytic investigation and comprehensive systematic review on the relationship between empathy and the MNS.
“the literature currently lacks a specific meta-analytic investigation and comprehensive systematic review on the relationship between empathy and the MNS.”
From Is the Putative Mirror Neuron System Associated with Empathy? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2021) · cites this paper as Baird, Scheffer, & Wilson, 2011
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- Authors
- Baird, A. D., Scheffer, I. E., & Wilson, S. J.
- Affiliations
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Wilson, Sarah J.
- Venue
- Social Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-08
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 327-335
- ISSN
- 1747-0919 (ISSN-L)
- 1747-0927
- OpenAlex
- W2160316816
- Cited by
- 137
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 13.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Robot Interaction and HRI
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Keywords
- mirror neuron system, empathy, imitation, autism spectrum disorder, affective empathy, cognitive empathy, lesion studies, functional neuroimaging, artificial neural networks
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Brain Mapping, Empathy, Humans, Imitative Behavior, Individuality, Mirror Neurons
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