Sensorimotor learning and the ontogeny of the mirror neuron system

Mirror neurons, which have now been found in the human and songbird as well as the macaque, respond to both the observation and the performance of the same action. It has been suggested that their matching response properties have evolved as an adaptation for action understanding; alternatively, these properties may arise through sensorimotor experience. Here I review mirror neuron response characteristics from the perspective of ontogeny; I discuss the limited evidence for mirror neurons in early development; and I describe the growing body of evidence suggesting that mirror neuron responses can be modified through experience, and that sensorimotor experience is the critical type of experience for producing mirror neuron responses.

► Mirror neurons respond to observation and performance of the same action.
► Response characteristics described with reference to ontogeny and phylogeny.
► Limited evidence for mirror neurons in early development.
► Mirror neuron responses can be modified through experience.
► Sensorimotor experience key to altering and maybe creating mirror neuron responses.