Psychology
Mirror Neurons and Imitation Learning
Quick fact
Mirror neurons were first discovered accidentally in the 1990s when researchers noticed that certain neurons in a monkey’s premotor cortex fired not only when the monkey grasped a peanut, but also when it watched a researcher grasp a peanut.
Why this is interesting
Ever wondered how you effortlessly copy someone’s dance move or facial expression? Your brain has specialized cells that mirror others' actions, making imitation automatic and powerful.