Brainstorms

The premise of my research, speeches and workshops over the past three decades has been based on the question, "If it's your job to develop the mind, shouldn't you know how the brain works?"

Kenneth Wesson works as a keynote speaker and educational consultant for pre-school through university-level institutions and organizations. He speaks throughout the world on the neuroscience of learning and methods for creating classrooms and learning environments that are "brain-considerate."

While watching a televised boxing match, football game, or mystery, have you ever noticed yourself perspiring? When a parent sticks his or her tongue out at an infant, the young baby will often reciprocate. When I yawn, you will like yawn without thought, hesitation or the slightest bit of control. While watching a movie or reading a novel, you might notice a steady stream of tears rolling down your cheeks. While witnessing a loved one receiving a vaccination, you will involuntarily cringe and often scream, “Ouch!” What are the brain mechanisms that cause such behaviors?

A series of “monkey see, monkey do” neurons with absolutely fascinating properties was recently discovered in the cerebral cortex of monkeys. Giaccamo Rizzollati, of the University of Parma (Italy), found a system of brain cells, now known as “mirror cells,” in the ventral premotor area (F5) of the brain's frontal lobes. This area is a part of the larger premotor cortex, whose activities are linked to planning and initiating movements. Immediately anterior to the motor area is a cortical strip of the brain referred to as the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) or the premotor cortex. The premotor cortex is a functional brain landmark separating the motor input (sensory/detecting) and motor output (performing) systems. All proposed actions are briefly rehearsed here prior to their execution by the motor system.

In experiments with monkeys, this unique cluster of neurons fired a signal when a monkey physically performed a single highly specific action with its hand. Whether pushing, pulling, tugging, or grasping an object, or when picking up or putting a peanut in its mouth, a special arrangement of neurons in the motor cortex were extremely active.

However, the most interesting characteristic of mirror neurons is that many of the very same neurons in the premotor areas also fired when the monkey watched another monkey or the experimenter perform the exact same task! During these laboratory experiments, it became easy to predict precisely which neurons would fire based on which activity the monkey was observing and processing. Interestingly, when mechanical tools performed the same task, the mirror neurons remained inactive. However, they fired rapidly even when they merely watched another living being involved in a similar action.

Kenneth Wesson (408) 223-6728
Kenneth.Wesson@sjeccd.org