Mirroring People

In this summary you will learn

• What mirror neurons are
• How mirror neurons work
• What are the social and philosophical implications of mirror neurons

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Why you should read Mirroring People

In this fascinating book, Marco Iacoboni wordily explains his research into mirror neurons, generally in language that laypeople can understand. He convincingly issues a challenge to the individualistic foundations of Western thought. People imitate one another, Iacoboni argues, on a neurological level: Their brains respond to the actions of others, almost as though they were doing those actions themselves. What’s more, different levels of neural activity occur depending on context and purpose. The human world is social, and each person’s actions have immediate, neurological implications for everyone else. Because of the number of fields Iacoboni touches on, and the broad implications mirror neurons have for society, getAbstract recommends his book to readers who are interested in communication, advertising, cognitive science and philosophy.

About the Author

Marco Iacoboni directs the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Laboratory at the Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center at the University of California Los Angeles.