title: Mirror neurons in the tree of life: mosaic evolution, plasticity and exaptation of sensorimotor matching responses.
abstract: Considering the properties of mirror neurons (MNs) in terms of development and phylogeny, we offer a novel, unifying, and testable account of their evolution according to the available data and try to unify apparently discordant research, including the plasticity of MNs during development, their adaptive value and their phylogenetic relationships and continuity. We hypothesize that the MN system reflects a set of interrelated traits, each with an independent natural history due to unique selective pressures, and propose that there are at least three evolutionarily significant trends that gave raise to three subtypes: hand visuomotor, mouth visuomotor, and audio-vocal. Specifically, we put forward a mosaic evolution hypothesis, which posits that different types of MNs may have evolved at different rates within and among species. This evolutionary hypothesis represents an alternative to both adaptationist and associative models. Finally, the review offers a strong heuristic potential in predicting the circumstances under which specific variations and properties of MNs are expected. Such predictive value is critical to test new hypotheses about MN activity and its plastic changes, depending on the species, the neuroanatomical substrates, and the ecological niche.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, 43100, Italy.|Deutsche Primaten Zentrum - Lichtenberg-Kolleg, Institute for Advanced Study, 37083, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tramacere
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, 35131, Italy.
authors.forename: Telmo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pievani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, 43100, Italy.|Institut des Sciences Cognitives 'Marc Jeannerod', CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69675, Bron Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Pier F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D056228:Feedback, Sensory / Q000502:physiology*; D059167:Mirror Neurons / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: exaptation; homology; manual gestures; mirror neurons; mosaic evolution; neonatal imitation; plasticity; sensorimotor learning; tool-use