Monkey See Monkey Do

Most of our life, we've probably known this, but often we don't put it in perspective.  Monkey see, monkey do is as alive and relevant as it ever has been.  I think one could easily describe this as mirror neurons.

Mirror neurons are those parts of our body that really look towards other humans to help us orient ourselves in the world around us.  What we see others do, we tend to mimic and do this as well.  We mirror what we see.  So, in all reality, it is monkey see, monkey do.

Like the small child who observes a brother or sister doing something and they learn from this so they too do the same thing.  It is the same as a young child who watches their parents do things and somehow all of the sudden they can do those things as well.  It is the way we learn and grow and evolve.

Now, please don't take this to extreme like the church I grew up which thought if you do something wrong, you're responsible for the actions of your brother or sister.  I mean, these people took this to the extreme.  I believe we all still have choices that we make and no matter what another person does, it doesn't mean we have to follow in their actions and footsteps.

I believe mirror neurons though help us find our place among society and with human civilization.  It is to help us learn how to work together and function together for the survival of the species.  Without it, we might all be walking in different directions.

Of course, I believe today there is a warning, because as we look at political leaders, they are performing actions that are less than human.  Unfortunately the mirror neurons of their followers are operating at full peak and does not appear to be any chance of slowing down.  I believe these actions can be harmful because they are not controlled by survival or the heart, but by the power and control of the ego.

As humans, I believe we have a responsibility to consider the highest good and survival of our species.  It isn't helpful to our civilization when we act as if we have no moral guide and compass.  Spouting hateful rhetoric towards another really shows just how low we have sunk in following the mirror neurons we see before us.

My hope is that we begin to use our mirror neurons to mimic behavior that is for our highest good, not for the lowest common denominator.  We all need to work together to survive in this world and on this planet.  Acting as if it is us against them in no ways brings about the future survival of our species.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

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032016

Neuroscience In The News On March 28

These are articles that I found of interest relating to news about Neuroscience.  In this issue, I have highlighted articles about March madness and mirror neurons, pain reduced by meditation and the effect of anxiety on bad decision making.

Please check out the article links below and feel free to comment with other information related to these subjects.  I enjoy learning as much as I can about the brain and passing this information on to everyone else that shares these passions.

This is for the week beginning March 28, 2016.

Please come back each week and hopefully I will have some more highlights.  Feel free to share with me ones that you have found and I may highlight those as well.

Feel free to check out the highlighted articles from March 21, 2016

March Madness and Mirror Neurons

Indeed, our brains contain mirror neurons in a number of brain areas. These brain cells fire when I see you waving at me and also when I am waving back at you. Mirror neurons pepper many brain areas that control our movements, from grasping to reaching to moving our eyes.

When we watch the players battling on the court, cutting across the defense with a no-look pass, shooting from the three-point line or blocking a shot of another player, mirror neurons make us literally feel what the player is feeling (to a milder degree, of course). Our brains are reenacting internally what we watch. It is as if we are almost playing the game ourselves.

Article Link:

• The Science Behind Our Love For March Madness
• Reported in the Washington Post on March 17, 2016

Can Meditation Reduce Pain?

A report finds when it comes to treating pain, meditation may provide drug-free relief. The study in the Journal of Neuroscience used a heated probe to inflict pain on a group of volunteers. Participants said meditation reduced the pain by as much as 24-percent. SOURCE – Journal of Neuroscience/MedDay/CBS

Article Link:

• Can Meditation Reduce Pain
• SOURCE – Journal of Neuroscience/MedDay/CBS

Anxiety And Bad Decision Making

Moghaddam and her team note that previous research investigating the effects of anxiety on the brain has primarily focused on the emotional response, such as how the brain cells of animal models respond to threatening situations.

Anxiety does not only have emotional implications for humans; it can also negatively impact everyday life, from preventing a person going to work, to interfering with personal relationships.

Article Link:

• Anxiety May Lead To Bad Decision Making
• Source:  Medical News Today
• Bita Moghaddam, Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania