This finding relates to the types of neurons and cortexes of the brain we have learned about this semester. The study involves mirror neurons and the cingulate cortex, two concepts we haven’t learned about in this course. However, we have learned about oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and other types of neurons in the brain. We have also learned about the visual cortex, motor cortex, and prefrontal cortex, but not the cingulate cortex. The link between brain and behavior is a third way the article relates to topics discussed in this course: the brain (mirror neurons) influence this behavior of the rats (freezing and empathy). I hope we are able to learn more about mirror neurons and the cingulate cortex before this course ends, as well as more about the biological basis of empathy.
Additional studies about mirror neurons are needed to see if they are located in other cortexes of the brain besides motor and cingulate. Although rat’s brains are similar in structure and function to humans, more studies are needed to identify additional biological empathy links in human brains. Exploring the limbic system further to elucidate the biological bases behind emotional behaviors may serve as a crucial element in diagnosing and understanding psychiatric disorders in the future.
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