Neuro-cognition and social-cognition: application to exercise rehabilitation

The discovery of mirror neurons has been recognized as one of the major developments in neuroscience, with possible implications for the explanation of many important cognitive functions, including action and perception understanding, imitation, and empathy. In the mirror neuron system, action observation, imitation, and empathy are represented in the same basic motor circuit as action execution. The present paper presents basic neurophysiological findings about mirror neuron system and discusses the effects of perceptual and motor resonance on other people’s actions. Finally, this paper examines strategies informed by mirror neuron research in an empathy-fostering program for autism and in a motor rehabilitation program for stroke patients.