Hebbian Learning is about contingency, not contiguity, and explains the emergence of predictive mirror neurons.
Hebbian Learning should not be reduced to contiguity, as it detects contingency and causality. Hebbian Learning accounts of mirror neurons make predictions that differ from associative learning: Through Hebbian Learning, mirror neurons become dynamic networks that calculate predictions and prediction errors and relate to ideomotor theories. The social force of imitation is important for mirror neuron emergence and suggests canalization.
Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, KNAW, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.keysers@nin.knaw.nl http://www.nin.knaw.nl/research_groups/keysers_group v.gazzola@nin.knaw.nl http://www.nin.knaw.nl/research_groups/keysers_group/team/valeria_gazzola.
Christian
C
Keysers
School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9JU, United Kingdom. dp@st-and.ac.uk http://www.perceptionlab.com/
David I
DI
Perrett
Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Valeria
V
Gazzola
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D059167:Mirror Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D012938:Social Perception