Brain Science Podcast #39: Michael Arbib on Mirror Neurons

Episode 39 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Dr. Michael Arbib from the University of Southern California. Dr. Arbib’s work with functional brain imaging has established the presence of mirror neurons in the human brain. In our interview we focused on the role of mirror neurons in imitation and language. In particular I questioned Dr. Arbib about the Mirror System Hypothesis (MSH) of Language Evolution that he proposed in 1998 with Giacomo Rizzolatti. We also explored how this hypothesis diverges from the universal grammar proposed by Noam Chomsky. Dr. Arbib also shared his enthusiasm for future research and we talked about the special challenges caused by the interdisciplinary nature of modern neuroscience.

Listen to the Interview

Related Episodes:

• Brain Science Podcast #7: A discussion of bonobos with Stuart Shanker, PhD
• Brain Science Podcast #30: a discussion of language evolution including my thoughts on Chomsky
• Brain Science Podcast #35: a detailed discussion of Mirrors in the Brain by Giacomo Rizzolatti

Scientists Mentioned in the Interview:

• Giacomo Rizzolatti: His team discovered mirror neurons at the University of Parma, Italy
• Other team members: Vittorio Gallese, Luciano Fadiga, and Leo Fogassi
• Ursula Bellugi (Salk Institute): pioneered the neurobiology of sign language
• Richard Byrne (University of St. Andrews): studies how gorillas learn in the wild
• Michael Tomasello (Max Planck Institute for Comparative Anthropology): studies social behavior of primates, including how communicative gestures vary between groups.
• Noam Chomsky (MIT): famous linguist who has proposed an inborn universal grammar
• DL Cheney and RM Seyfarth: research about primate vocal behavior, especially the use of calls in the wild.

References:

• Cybernetics, by Norbert Wiener- this classic inspired Dr. Arbib’s career in computational neuroscience.
• Action to Language via the Mirror Neuron System, (2006) edited by Michael Arbib.
• Mirrors in the Brain by Giacomo Rizzolatti and Corrado Sinigaglia, 2008. Discussed in Episode 37.
• Mirroring People by Marco Iacoboni, 2008. The author studies mirror neurons at UCLA.
• Rizzolatti G & Arbib MA Language within our grasp. Trends in Neuroscience 21(5): 188-194- the first paper describing the Mirror System Hypothesis, 1998.
• Iacoboni M, Molnar-Szakacs I, Gallese V, Buccino G, Mazziotta JC, et al. Grasping the intentions of others with one’s own mirror neuron system. PLoS Biol 3 (3): e79, 2005.
• Arbib, M.A., “From Monkey-like Action Recognition to Human Language: An Evolutionary Framework for Neurolinguistics” (with commentaries and author’s response), Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 28:105-167. (Click here for supplemental commentaries and the author’s “electronic response.”) 2005.
• Arbib MA 2006 “Broca’s Area in System Perspective: Language in the Context of Action-Oriented Perception” in Broca’s Region, Oxford University Press, pp 153-168.
• Arbib MA 2008 “Invention and Community in the Emergence of Language: Insights from New Sign Languages,” in Foundations in Evolutionary Cognitive Neuroscience, Cambridge University Press.
• Click here for more papers by Dr. Arbib. He has also written over 40 books.

Other Links:

• Michael Arbib’s website

Listen to Episode 39 of the Brain Science Podcast

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Exploring the Neuroscience of Visual Illusions

I want to recommend this short piece on the Scientific American website:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-neuroscience-of-illusion

It includes an excellent slideshow that I am sure you will enjoy.

Brain Science Podcast #38: Interview with Jeff Hawkins “On Intelligence”

Episode 38 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Jeff Hawkins, author of On Intelligence. Hawkins is well-known for founding Palm Computing and Handspring. He invented the Grafitti handwriting recognition system and helped develop the Palm Trio SmartPhone. Since he published his bestseller On Intelligence, he has devoted his work to his passion for neuroscience. His current company Numenta is developing software that models the hierarchal structure of the neocortex. In this interview we talk about the ideas in Hawkins book and how he is applying them to develop a computer model of cortical function. This is a follow-up to Episode 2, which first aired in December of 2006.

Listen to Dr. Campbell interview Jeff Hawkins.

Download a transcript of this episode.

Links and References:

Jeff Hawkins: wikipedia entry

• On Intelligence by Jeff Hawkins with Sandra Blakesle
• http://www.onintelligence.org
• Dileep George: co-founder of Numenta and principal architect of the first prototype implementing the hierarchical temporal memory system (HTM) patterned after the human neocortex.

Vernon Montcastle: pioneer who proposed that all parts of the brain’s cortex work the same way.

• Vernon Mountcastle (1978), “An Organizing Principle for Cerebral Function: The Unit Model and the Distributed System”, The Mindful Brain (Gerald M. Edelman and Vernon B. Mountcastle, eds.) Cambridge, MA: MIT Press (Please let me know if you find this paper on-line!)
• Perceptual Neuroscience: The Cerebral Cortex by Vernon B. Mountcastle. This 1998 is recommended by Jeff Hawkins, especially for those interested in the technical details of cortical function.

Redwood Institute for Theoretical Neuroscience (UC-Berkeley) founded by Jeff Hawkins

Numenta: company website includes extensive educational information about hierarchical temporal memory system (HTM). The company’s focus is practical implementation of HTM Theory.

Listen to Episode 38

Download a transcript of this episode.

Share your comments on the Discussion Forum or visit the new BSP website

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Brain Science Podcast #37: Dr. John Medina discusses “Brain Rules”

John Medina, PhD

Episode 37 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Dr. John Medina, author of Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. We talk about how exercise, sleep, and stress effect our brains with an emphasis on practical advice for healthier brain function. We also look at how research on memory, vision and the brain’s attention system suggests how we can improve our ability to learn and our ability to share ideas with others.

Dr. Medina’s focus is on considering real world examples of how our schools and work environments could be reformed to utilize the growing knowledge of neuroscience. But he also stresses the importance of compiling sufficient experimental data before embarking on new programs.

Listen to Episode 37 now (left click to listen, right click to download mp3).

Links and References:

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD) by John Medina

The book’s website contain extensive references and instructive videos.

YouTube Video of John Medina speaking at Google™.

Listen to Brain Science Podcast #37

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“All in the Mind” looks at Nicotine and the Brain

The May 10th episode of All in the Mind is an excellent discussion of the latest research about nicotine addiction. It includes a very balanced look at the controversy over the new smoking cessation drug, varenicline, which is sold in the US as Chantix. Nicotine has a unique effect on certain neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. Varenicline works as a partial agonist, which means it mimics some of the effects of nicotine, but it also blocks the receptor so that when a person smokes the experience is not rewarding. However, since the receptors involved also have other functions (they aren’t there to respond to the nicotine in cigarettes just like the opiate receptors are not there to respond to man-made narcotics), using the drug can lead to a wide variety of side effects. Balancing the risks and benefits of the drug is one of the topics discussed in the podcast.

I have to admit that addiction is a subject in which I have little personal interest, but obviously addiction to smoking effects millions of people. I highly recommend this podcast to everyone who smokes or loves some who does.

Be sure to go to the site for both the show’s transcript and links to everyone featured on the show.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/stories/2008/2235816.htm

Brain Science Podcast #36: Art Glenberg on Embodied Cognition

Art Glenberg, PhD

Episode 36 of the Brain Science Podcast is an interview with Arthur Glenberg, PhD about embodied cognition. Dr. Glenberg recently moved to Arizona State University after over 30 years at the University of Wisconsin’s Laboratory of Embodied Cognition. His research focuses on the relationship between embodiment and language. In this interview we explore the experimental evidence for a theory of language that embraces the concept that our language abilities are actually rooted in our perceptual and motor abilities. Dr. Glenberg also explains how his work has practical implications in helping children learn how to read.

Since Dr. Glenberg has had a long career as a working research scientist, this interview also provided an opportunity to explore how scientific hypotheses are formed and how experiments are designed to test these hypothesis. I think this interview will give you a fascinating look into the real world of cognitive psychology.

Listen to Dr. Glenberg’s Interview (left click to listen, right click to download)

Links and References:

Arthur Glenberg, PhD

• email: arthur.glenberg@asu.edu
• Laboratory for Embodied Cognition
• Havas, D.A., Glenberg, A.M., and Rink, M. (2007) Emotion simulation during language comprehension. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 14 (3), 436-441
• Numerous references available as PDF
• Thinking With the Body: blog post of March 3, 2008

Other Scientists Mentioned in the Episode:

• George Lakoff: pioneering linguist
• James Gibson-known for his ideas about affordances
• William Epstein-emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin
• Joseph Campos: University of California (Berkelely)
• Amy Needham and Amanda Woodard-experiments with velcro mits and infant cognition
• David A Havas: graduate student and co-author with Dr. Glenberg
• Mike Kashak: Florida State University
• Mike Rinck: German co-author-see paper under Glenberg (more papers)
• Vittorio Gallese, Dept of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Italy (where mirror neurons were discovered): extensive experimental with motor neurons in monkeys
• Fritz Stack (Germany): experiments showing that facial experiments affect mood and cognition

References:

• Havas, D.A., Glenberg, A.M., and Rink, M. (2007) Emotion simulation during language comprehension. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 14 (3), 436-441
• more publications by Arthur Glenberg
• Sommerville, J.A., Woodard, A.L., and Needham, A., Action experience alters 3-month-old infants’ perception of others’ actions, Cognition 96 (2005) B1-B11.
• Strack, F., Martin, L. L., & Stepper, S. (1988). Inhibiting and facilitating conditions of the human smile: A nonobtrusive test of the facial feedback hypothesis. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 54, 768-777.
• Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things (1987) by George Lakoff
• recent essays by George Lakoff written for the Rockridge Institute

Listen to Dr. Glenberg’s Interview (left click to listen, right click to download)

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Transcript of György Buzsáki’s Interview is now On-line

Episode 31 of the Brain Science Podcast was a challenging interview with György Buzsáki about his book Rhythms of the Brain. Thanks to listener Diane Jacobs we now have a transcript available for Episode 31.

Click here for the transcript.

Be sure to visit Diane’s Blog at http://humanantigravitysuit.blogspot.com/. When it comes to reading books about neuroscience, Diane makes me feel like a slacker.

Brain Science Podcast #35: A Closer Look at Mirror Neurons

Brain Science Podcast #35 is a discussion of Mirrors in the brain: How our minds share actions, emotions, and experience by Giacomo Rizzolatti and Corrado Sinigaglia. Mirror neurons were discovered in Rizzolatti’s lab in Parma Italy in the early 1990′s and his book is a detailed to discussion of the experimental evidence in both monkeys and humans. Direct single neuron recordings have been made in monkeys. The evidence in humans is indirect since it is based on mainly on neuroimaging studies like PET scans and fMRI scans. Even so mirror neurons appear to be essential to our ability to understand both the actions and emotions of others. Listen Now.

In this episode we also explore the evidence that there are other neurons in the motor areas of the brain that have sensory properties and that the areas of the brain traditionally thought to be devoted to sensory functions also contain neurons with motor properties. Another fascinating discovery is the fact that there are neurons that respond not only to somatosensory inputs (such as being touched) but also to visual or auditory inputs from objects within our peri-personal space. For background on these body maps I recommend listening to Episode 21 and Episode 23. If you are new to the Brain Science Podcast you may want to listen to those episodes first because this week’s episode is a little more technical than most.

I will be exploring the importance of these discoveries in future episodes.

Listen to Brain Science Science Podcast Episode 35 (mirror neurons) NOW.

Links:

Giacomo Rizzolatti- University of Parma

Mirror neurons (wikipedia entry)

Mirror neurons (Scholarpedia entry written by Dr. Rizzolatti)

Listen to Brain Science Podcast #35 (mirror neurons) Now

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More on BDNF: “Miracle Grow” for the Brain

In Episode 33 of the Brain Science Podcast, Harvard’s Dr. John Ratey introduced us to brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), which he described as “Miracle Grow for the Brain” because it actually stimulates the grow of new neurons in the brain. The emphasis in our discussion was on the importance of exercise in stimulating the release of BDNF.

If you are interested in checking out some further references on BDNF you may want to check out Charles Daney’s Science and Reason Blog. Daney also does a good job of explaining exactly what a neurotropic factor is and does.

Treating Vets with Mirrors

Jamie Davis of Mediccast sent me a link to an interesting article from the CNN website. It describes how mirror box therapy is being used to help veterans who have suffered amputations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those of you who heard Sandra Blakeslee’s interview about body maps back in Episode 23 will remember that she described how her son built the first mirror box for VS Ramachandran several years ago while working as a graduate student.

It is good to see that military physicians are beginning to apply some of the recent findings of neuroscience to helping injured vets, but you may also recall that when we talked with Dr. Edward Taub about stroke rehab, he reported the difficulty of getting new methods of head injury treatment into the VA clinics.

link to article about mirrors: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/19/mirror.therapy/index.html