The concept of mirror neurons—nerve cells that activate both during the execution of an action and when observing the same action being performed by another—has sparked increasing interest in neuroscience due to their possible role in empathy and social cognition. Initially discovered in Macaca mulatta monkeys by Rizzolatti and collaborators, these neurons were identified in area F5 of the premotor cortex and later inferred in humans through functional neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (Kiełt et al., 2024).
The literature reviewed in the article by Kiełt et al. (2024) highlights that mirror neurons are implicated in crucial aspects of empathy, including emotional recognition, affective resonance, and the ability to adopt another person’s perspective. Neurofunctional evidence, such as activation of the anterior insular cortex and anterior cingulate cortex in studies with pain and disgust stimuli, supports the hypothesis that these neurons mediate empathic responses. In particular, studies by Wicker et al. (2003) and Singer et al. (2004) point to an overlap between the brain areas activated during the experience and observation of emotion, suggesting a common neural basis for affective sharing (Kiełt et al., 2024).
However, this association is not consensual. Critical studies, such as those by Danziger et al. (2009), have shown that individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain are capable of presenting empathic responses when observing the pain of others, even without having ever experienced this sensation directly. This indicates that empathy may be mediated by additional or alternative mechanisms to mirror neurons. Furthermore, social factors, such as the perception of justice in interlocutors — explored by Singer et al. (2006) — modulate empathic responses, suggesting that contextual and cognitive variables play a relevant role, relativizing the exclusive weight of the mirror system (Kiełt et al., 2024).
In the clinical context, there is particular interest in the association between dysfunctions in the mirror neuron system and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Individuals with ASD often have difficulties in imitation, emotional recognition, and social cognition—functions that would theoretically be mediated by this system. Studies such as that by Dapretto et al. (2006) demonstrated hypoactivation in key regions of the mirror neuron system, such as the inferior frontal gyrus, during the observation of facial expressions. This finding is often interpreted as evidence of the so-called “broken mirror theory” for autism. However, research by Hamilton et al. (2007) and Bird et al. (2007) indicates that these difficulties may be more related to attention, motivation, or high-level cognitive processing than to a direct functional failure of the mirror system (Kiełt et al., 2024).
Important therapeutic implications emerge from these findings. Interventions based on imitation and observation of actions have been explored as promising strategies for motor rehabilitation in post-stroke patients and for the development of social skills in people with ASD. In addition, empathy training approaches have shown benefits in populations with Parkinson’s, improving emotional and cognitive aspects, probably through the activation of areas linked to empathy such as the anterior insula and the cingulate cortex (Kiełt et al., 2024).
It is important to recognize, as the review itself highlights, that much of the existing data is based on correlations rather than causal relationships. The simultaneous activation of brain areas during different empathic conditions does not, in itself, allow us to infer the existence of the same underlying mechanism. Furthermore, methodological limitations inherent to neuroimaging techniques, such as the spatial resolution of fMRI and the overlap of regions activated by different functions, require caution in interpreting the results.
In summary, the mirror neuron system appears to play a relevant — albeit partial — role in mediating empathy and social cognition. Its contribution is most evident in automatic processes of emotional recognition and imitation, but it is not sufficient to explain the complexity of human empathic responses, which involve multiple systems and contexts. A more refined understanding of its action requires the integration of more precise methodological approaches and theories that consider the interaction between neurobiological, cognitive and social factors.
Reference:
KIEŁT, Weronika et al. The role of mirror neurons in empathy, with a focus on their relevance in autism spectrum disorder and other clinical implications. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, vol. 69, 2024. Available at: https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2024.69.55758. Accessed on: 18 June. 2025.
