The Myth of Mirror Neurons: The Real Neuroscience of Communication and Cognition
SKU: 92067164889

The Myth of Mirror Neurons: The Real Neuroscience of Communication and Cognition

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The Myth of Mirror Neurons: The Real Neuroscience of Communication and CognitionIn 1992, a group of neuroscientists from Parma, Italy, reported a new class of brain cells discovered in the motor cortex of the macaque monkey. These cells, later dubbed mirror neurons, responded equally well during the monkey's own motor actions, such as grabbing an object, and while the monkey watched someone else perform similar motor actions. Researchers speculated that the neurons allowed the monkey to understand others by simulating their

In 1992, a group of neuroscientists from Parma, Italy, reported a new class of brain cells discovered in the motor cortex of the macaque monkey. These cells, later dubbed mirror neurons, responded equally well during the monkey's own motor actions, such as grabbing an object, and while the monkey watched someone else perform similar motor actions. Researchers speculated that the neurons allowed the monkey to understand others by simulating their actions in its own brain.

Mirror neurons soon jumped species and took human neuroscience and psychology by storm. In the late 1990s theorists showed how the cells provided an elegantly simple new way to explain the evolution of language, the development of human empathy, and the neural foundation of autism. In the years that followed, a stream of scientific studies implicated mirror neurons in everything from schizophrenia and drug abuse to sexual orientation and contagious yawning.

In The Myth of Mirror Neurons, neuroscientist Gregory Hickok reexamines the mirror neuron story and finds that it is built on a tenuous foundation--a pair of codependent assumptions about mirror neuron activity and human understanding. Drawing on a broad range of observations from work on animal behavior, modern neuroimaging, neurological disorders, and more, Hickok argues that the foundational assumptions fall flat in light of the facts. He then explores alternative explanations of mirror neuron function while illuminating crucial questions about human cognition and brain function: Why do humans imitate so prodigiously? How different are the left and right hemispheres of the brain? Why do we have two visual systems? Do we need to be able to talk to understand speech? What's going wrong in autism? Can humans read minds?

The Myth of Mirror Neurons not only delivers an instructive tale about the course of scientific progress--from discovery to theory to revision--but also provides deep insights into the organization and function of the human brain and the nature of communication and cognition.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 08/18/2014
ISBN: 9780393089615
Pages: 292
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 9.75h x 6.11w x 0.84d

Review Citations: Discover 09/01/2014 pg. 69
Publishers Weekly 05/05/2014
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2014
Booklist 07/01/2014 pg. 11
Choice 05/01/2015 pg. 1525
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SKU: 92067164889

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Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Super cute
Color: Bunny (Mauve), Size: Small
Super cute and fuzzy. Definitely perfect size for a puppy and not too loud. The fur is very soft and the nose is sown on not a hard piece that can be chewed on. Very good quality too.
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★★★★★ 4
Normally amazing
Color: Spiky Ball (Blue, Orange), Size: Medium
We have purchased these slightly spiky dog balls several times for our very strong jaw heavy chewer dogs and they’ve been amazing. They don’t break down they don’t get torn apart the squeakers don’t even pop out of them. So we ordered another package because we’ve lost a few outside to the lawnmower… oops and the package that got delivered today had only one ball that squeaks and the other does not. THIS IS A PROBLEM ! Unfortunately my female dog got to the new squeaking ball first and my male got to the non-squeaking ball and he was NOT happy. Basically once they claim a ball it’s theirs and the other dogs don’t go near the ball they claimed. So he’s following my female around and every time she squeaks the ball and I’m just waiting for him to attempt to take it from her causing damage to her. Normally… These are amazingly fun, tough, durable but also squeaking balls (that’s rare in a tough ball) that my dogs absolutely love. This time just got a bad batch I guess. When they squeak the dogs LOVE them. After several months of play the squeaker might break inside of the ball but the ball never comes apart or gets damaged. And we as the owners love that they don’t break down are not able to be ripped or torn even by our very strong jawed and big jaw muscle dogs. They are also great for in the house play because they’re small enough that they fit completely inside our dog‘s mouth but obviously not small enough to get swallowed so when we throw them in the house for fetch the dogs can jump up and catch them fully in their mouth so they don’t cause any damage to the walls when they hit the walls. They’re not super heavy but they’re incredibly durable. Definitely worth the price especially if you have heavy chewers or big jaw muscle dogs.
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MADDY
Grantham, US
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Best fun indestructible toy
Color: Crinkle Duck (Yellow), Size: Large
Truly indestructible no matter how much our oittie tries. She has owned it for three months works at destroying every day with no success. She carries it everywhere. Best purchase for chewer, more fun than the popular rubber heavy duty toy. Do not hesitate your pup will thank you for this fun distraction.
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peter contino
Battle Creek, US
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My dog loves this toy!
Color: Bunny (Gray), Size: Large, Color: Bunny (Gray), Size: Large
High quality, big toy, perfect for a medium to large size dog. After a few months of serious chewing I had to buy another one, but well worth the money! Rocky loves it.
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Denise Boyd
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 4
Great toy but if your dog is an aggressive chewer, please think twice.
Color: Crinkle Chicken (Brown), Size: Large
I received this on May 23rd and on June 8th, after playing with this thing every day, our recently acquired 36 lb dog finally ripped it open and got out all the plastic and the squeaky part. Lily Belle will miss you, chicken. Lily loooooved this toy! She'd toss it in the air, chew on it, pull it with her teeth etc. but as much as she loved it, we won't replace it. It's just not durable enough for her. If your dog is an aggressive chewer, you might want to try a different toy. I hate that this lasted just a smidge over two weeks because Lily seemed to truly enjoy this toy. RIP, squeaky chicken!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2026

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