Evidence of mirror neurons in human inferior frontal gyrus

J Neurosci. 2009 Aug 12;29(32):10153-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2668-09.2009.

Abstract

There is much current debate about the existence of mirror neurons in humans. To identify mirror neurons in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) of humans, we used a repetition suppression paradigm while measuring neural activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects either executed or observed a series of actions. Here we show that in the IFG, responses were suppressed both when an executed action was followed by the same rather than a different observed action and when an observed action was followed by the same rather than a different executed action. This pattern of responses is consistent with that predicted by mirror neurons and is evidence of mirror neurons in the human IFG.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / physiology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Imitative Behavior / physiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology*