Introduction
Within the brains of many individuals are neurons called empathetic mirror neurons. These specialized brain cells were first discovered through research on monkeys but were later also discovered to be within the brains of humans. Mirror neurons are brain cells which become activated when an individual performs an action or experiences an emotion, when the individual observes actions or emotions in others, and even when the individual imagines these experiences in their own mind.
Mirror neurons ultimately connect humans to one another by allowing them share in the experience of others.
This article is a brief, explanation on what takes place within the brain when humans experience empathy and offers my personal beliefs on why mirror neuron evolved in humans in general.
Experiencing Empathy on a Neuro Level
Empathy is an ability or an emotional response that allows us to understand others and share in their experiences.
When we experience an emotion or engage in a behavior, certain brain cell networks become activated. Interestingly, when we watch another person who is experiencing an emotion or engaging in a behavior, or when we imagine these experiences, the same neural networks also become activated. In such cases, our brain behaves almost as if we ourselves are having the experience.
This phenomenon is due to specialized brain cells called mirror neurons. Mirror neurons ultimately allow humans to experience empathy by allowing us to share in the experiences of others directly. It is not that we are simply observing these actions and emotions in others, we are actually experiencing them ourselves.
We can observe this process taking place within us, any time that we have an emotional response after observing emotions in another. An example of this would be feeling emotional or crying during emotional moments in movies and television shows. In such cases, these external influences create an emotional response within us, as if the event or situation is happening to us directly.
Conclusion: Humans are meant to be Connected
Mirror neurons create a sense of empathy within us by allowing us to experience what others are experiencing. They allow us to relate to one another and they ultimately connect us as a species. I think overall, mirror neurons demonstrate that humans have evolved to be a very social and cooperative animal, and that we are wired to see others as similar to us rather than different.
It seems to me that humans ultimately evolved to be connected to one another.
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