Mirror neurons, language, and embodied cognition

Basic mechanisms of the mind, cognition, language, its semantic and emotional mechanisms are modeled using dynamic logic (DL). This cognitively and mathematically motivated model leads to a dual-model hypothesis of language and cognition. The paper emphasizes that abstract cognition cannot evolve without language. The developed model is consistent with a joint emergence of language and cognition from a mirror neuron system. The dual language–cognition model leads to the dual mental hierarchy. The nature of cognition embodiment in the hierarchy is analyzed. Future theoretical and experimental research is discussed.

► Language–cognition interaction, non-combinatorial mathematical model. ► The language–cognition model is consistent with mirror neuron wirings. ► Abstract cognition can only be learned with language ‘guidance’. ► ‘Associationism’ is replaced by a vague-to-crisp language-to-cognition model.