什么是镜像神经元，它们如何使我们更有同理心?

什么是镜像神经元，它们如何使我们更有同理心?

Smiles are contagious.

微笑是会传染的。

And no, that's not just what mom tells you as she carts you off to school, assuring you that you'll make plenty of friends. Just keep smiling.

不，这不仅仅是妈妈开车送你上学时对你说的话，她还向你保证你会交到很多朋友。只是保持微笑。

In fact, scientists have long noted that animals reflect each other's expressions — smiles, frowns and everything in between — as an essential means of communication.

事实上，科学家们早就注意到，动物把彼此的表情——微笑、皱眉以及介于两者之间的所有表情——作为一种基本的交流方式。

We may not know why someone is making a face, but mirror neurons allow us to simulate the feeling. (Photo: Dr Ajay Kumar Singh/Shutterstock)

It all comes down to a special kind of brain cell identified by Italian scientists back in 1992 called a mirror neuron.

这一切都归结于1992年意大利科学家发现的一种叫做镜像神经元的特殊脑细胞。

These neurons communicate from person to person, or primate to primate, essentially mirroring each other's expressions and the feelings that go along with them. Ultimately, they may form the pillars of empathy.

这些神经元在人与人之间，或灵长类动物与灵长类动物之间进行交流，本质上反映了彼此的表情和感受。最终，它们可能会成为同理心的支柱。

Mirror neurons are also known as 'monkey see, monkey do' cells. (Photo: VectorMine/Shutterstock)

While some scientists have hailed mirror neurons as "the basis of civilization," others suggest their role may be somewhat overrated.

虽然一些科学家称赞镜像神经元是“文明的基础”，但也有人认为镜像神经元的作用可能被高估了。

There's little doubt, however, that the discovery of mirror neurons represented a shift in our understanding of how we communicate.

然而，毫无疑问，镜像神经元的发现代表了我们对沟通方式理解的转变。

But mirror neurons suggest we can understand a person's inner thought processes on a biological level. We don't consciously deduce their state of mind. We feel them. And we simulate them.

但镜像神经元表明，我们可以从生物学的角度理解一个人的内在思维过程。我们不会有意识地推断他们的心理状态。我们感觉他们。我们模拟他们。

"Mirror neurons are the only brain cells we know of that seem specialized to code the actions of other people and also our own actions," Iacoboni explained in Scientific American. "They are obviously essential brain cells for social interactions. Without them, we would likely be blind to the actions, intentions and emotions of other people."

Iacoboni在《科学美国人》上解释说:“镜像神经元是我们所知的唯一一种似乎专门编码他人和我们自己行为的脑细胞。”“它们显然是社交活动中必不可少的脑细胞。没有他们，我们很可能对他人的行为、意图和情绪视而不见。”

And not just people. Our mirror neurons may extend also to animals. Maybe that accounts for why some people can't drive past an injured animal on the road — even after countless people already did?

不仅仅是人。我们的镜像神经元也可以延伸到动物身上。也许这就是为什么有些人不能在路上开车超过受伤的动物——即使已经有无数人这么做了。

But there's a flip side. What happens when the mirror neuron system is on the fritz? Research suggests there's a link between autism and misfiring neurons. A 2005 study from the University of California, San Diego, for example, looked at 10 people with autism. The researchers noted their mirror neurons didn't function in a typical way but rather responded only to what they did themselves, rather than to the actions of others.

但也有另一面。当镜像神经元系统出故障时会发生什么?研究表明自闭症和神经元的失活有联系。例如，加州大学圣地亚哥分校(University of California, San Diego) 2005年的一项研究观察了10名自闭症患者。研究人员注意到，他们的镜像神经元并不以一种典型的方式运作，而是只对他们自己做的事情做出反应，而不是对其他人的行为做出反应。

But mirror neurons may serve a purpose far beyond empathy. They may also be key to learning a language or skill. As any teacher will tell you, a language can't strictly be taught from a textbook. It has to be heard and absorbed and mirrored.

但是镜像神经元的作用可能远远超出了移情作用。他们也可能是学习语言或技能的关键。正如任何老师都会告诉你的那样，一门语言不能严格地从课本上教授。它必须被倾听、吸收和反映。

The same goes for learning to play guitar. Let the instructor play for you.

学习吉他也是如此。让教练为你演奏。

And, as your mom might remind you, the same may be said for a smile. If you send one out there, you'll get one back.

而且，就像你妈妈提醒你的那样，微笑也是如此。如果你送一个出去，你会得到一个回来。

Good vibrations, indeed.

确实是良好的循环。