Higher-level processes in the formation and application of associations during action understanding.
The associative account described in the target article provides a viable explanation for the origin of mirror neurons. We argue here that if mirror neurons develop purely by associative learning, then they cannot by themselves explain intentional action understanding. Higher-level processes seem to be involved in the formation of associations as well as in their application during action understanding.
Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.heil@donders.ru.nl s.vanpelt@donders.ru.nl j.kwisthout@donders.ru.nl i.vanrooij@donders.ru.nl h.bekkering@donders.ru.nl http://www.ru.nl/donders/
Lieke
L
Heil
Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.heil@donders.ru.nl s.vanpelt@donders.ru.nl j.kwisthout@donders.ru.nl i.vanrooij@donders.ru.nl h.bekkering@donders.ru.nl http://www.ru.nl/donders/
Stan
S
van Pelt
Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.heil@donders.ru.nl s.vanpelt@donders.ru.nl j.kwisthout@donders.ru.nl i.vanrooij@donders.ru.nl h.bekkering@donders.ru.nl http://www.ru.nl/donders/
Johan
J
Kwisthout
Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.heil@donders.ru.nl s.vanpelt@donders.ru.nl j.kwisthout@donders.ru.nl i.vanrooij@donders.ru.nl h.bekkering@donders.ru.nl http://www.ru.nl/donders/
Iris
I
van Rooij
Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.heil@donders.ru.nl s.vanpelt@donders.ru.nl j.kwisthout@donders.ru.nl i.vanrooij@donders.ru.nl h.bekkering@donders.ru.nl http://www.ru.nl/donders/
Harold
H
Bekkering
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D059167:Mirror Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D012938:Social Perception