For this post, I want to focus on the idea of mirrors. Both physically, and mentally, as mirror neurons.
MIRROR - "A mirror is an object with at least one reflective surface. The most familiar type of mirror is the plane mirror, which has a flat surface. Curved mirrors are also used, to produce magnified or diminished images or focus light or simply distort the reflected image. Mirrors are commonly used for personal grooming or admiring one's self (in which case the old-fashioned term "looking-glass" can be used), decoration, and architecture. Mirrors are also used in scientific apparatus such as telescopes and lasers, cameras, and industrial machinery. Most mirrors are designed for visible light; however, mirrors designed for other types of waves or other wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation are also used, especially in non-optical instruments."
MIRROR NEURON - "A mirror neuron is a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. Thus, the neuron "mirrors" the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting. Such neurons have been directly observed in primates, humans and other species including birds. In humans, brain activity consistent with that of mirror neurons has been found in the premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area, the primary somatosenory cortex, and the inferior parietal cortex."
Both definitions are from Wikipedia.
I have found two articles based around the idea of the mirror neuron.
Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences
Vol. 358, No. 1431, Decoding, Imitating and Influencing the Actions of Others: The Mechanisms of Social Interaction (Mar. 29, 2003), pp. 517-528
Published by: The Royal Society
“It has been proposed that the capacity to code the “like me” analogy between self and others constitutes a basic prerequisite and a starting point for social cognition. It is by means of this self/other equivalence that meaningful social bonds can be established, that we can recognize others as similar to us, and that imitation can take place.”
“Intersubjective relations are interesting not only because they capture an essential trait of the human mind – its social character – but also, and even more importantly, because they provide a greater opportunity to understand how the individual mind develops and works.”
“The observation of an action leads to the activation of the same neural network active during its actual execution: action observation causes in the observer the automatic simulated re-enactment of the same action.”
“Behavioural data have shown that…can also infer the goal of an action even when the visual information is not complete. Data from myself and colleagues reveal the probable neural mechanism at the basis of this cognitive capacity. The interference concerning the goals of the behaviour of others appears to be meditated by the activity of motor neurons coding the goal of the same action in the observer’s brain. Out of sight is not “out of mind” just because, by simulating the action, the gap can be filled.”
“I have suggested that the establishment of self-other identity is a driving force for the cognitive development of more articulated and sophisticated forms or interpersonal relations. It is this identity relation the enables us to understand others’ behaviour, to imitate it, to share the sensations and emotions that others experience.”
Making sense of mirror neurons
Lawrence Shapiro
Published online: 30 September 2008
© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008
Abstract of article:
“The discovery of mirror neurons has been hailed as one of the most
exciting developments in neuroscience in the past few decades. These neurons dis-
charge in response to the observation of others’ actions. But how are we to understand
the function of these neurons? In this paper I defend the idea that mirror neurons are
best conceived as components of a sensory system that has the function to perceive ac-
tion. In short, mirror neurons are part of a hitherto unrecognized “sixth sense”. In this
spirit, research should move toward developing a psychophysics of mirror neurons.”
I originally chose this topic for the physical mirror, yet discovered many interesting articles on the mirror neurons in the brain. I found this to be equally as interesting as the physical form. I really like the idea of the self/other identity brought up in the first article, and also the idea of mirror neurons being a "sixth sense" in the latter. I hope to somehow use mirrors, or some sort of reflective material, in my presentation, and involve the physical and mental aspects of seeing, doing, responding, understanding. The issue that I have with my work right now is that I am scared that it may turn out to be too personal, but the idea of mirror neurons is counteracting that idea. People will see something that they may have had an experience with before, and possibly react in a similar way as I am involved in my work. Using mirrors literally, physically, can involve the viewer into a piece. I discovered several artists that play with the idea of reflection, or lack there of, and am very intrigued by Olivier Sidet's "Ghost Mirror." Yet, I have no idea how he makes it, and his site is under construction. But, basically, the mirror allows a clear view from a distance, but the image gets distorted as you approach it, eventually becoming nothing when you are face to face with it. Yet, you can still see the environment. LOVE THIS! But how? So, instead, I have been researching other ways to get a mirror effect without using straight mirrors, even though I am not exing this out, I have found a paint that can be used on glass to create a mirror surface. So, I am thinking of possibly displaying photographs on glass, with bits of mirror paint here and there, almost as a collage, to allow the viewer to view me and themselves.
regular mirror
Olivier Sidet's "Ghost Mirror"
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