PSYC23H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Trier Social Stress Test, Phantom Limb, Mirror Neuron
Document Summary
Subtle changes in brain function cause differences in perception of world changes caused by changes in environment. Parents cortisol levels drops during the still face test. Where the oxytocin receptors are is different between the montane and prarie voles. Concept of epigenetics was first articulated in ancient times. Motor command neurons will fire when perform actions, but 20 percent of them will also fire when we see someone reach and grab something (mirror neurons virtual reality simulation of the neurons) Can be related to culture and the evolution of society and knowledge. Mirror neurons allow us to emulate or imitate peoples actions, led to vertical transmission of certain learned actions. Lead to lamarkian evolution (fast), rather than darwins evolution (slow many years) There are also mirror neurons involved in touch, watching other people getting touched (sensorimotor region) Rather than experiencing the touch, have feed back system from the sensory neurons, to just feel empathy.