关键词: 镜像神经元系统, 社会认知, 模仿, 心理理论, 共情

Abstract: The finding of mirror neuron system engenders researchers to understand human beings’ various domains of social cognition from a unifying neural mechanism. Mirror neurons in macaques’ F5 area enabled them to decipher others’ goal-directed action at an abstract level. Using brain imaging techniques, it has been found that the human beings’ mirror neuron system could map the observation of external action on internal motor representation, which warrants human beings to conduct social activities like imitation, language comprehension, understanding others’ intentions as well as emotions via embodied simulation. Moreover, MNS has been evidenced to play a vital role in social interaction. Finally, several possible directions for future researches are discussed: the function of MNS underlying theory of mind, relations between self-other question and MNS, the influence of factors like experience and motivation on the activity of MNS

Key words: mirror neuron system, social cognition, imitation, theory of mind, empathy