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Mirror neurons represent a distinctive class of neurons that discharge both when an individual executes a motor act and when he observes another individual performing the same or a similar motor act. These neurons were first discovered in monkeys’ brains. In humans, brain activity consistent with that of mirror neurons has been found in the premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area, the primary somatosensory cortex, and the inferior parietal cortex.

What might be the functional role of the mirror neuron system? Hypotheses such as action understanding, imitation, intention understanding, and empathy have been put forward to explain the mirror neurons’ functional role. In addition to these, it has also been suggested that the mirror neuron system represents the basic neural mechanism from which language evolved.

However, the question of what the function is of the mirror neuron system is probably an ill-posed question. Mirror neurons do not have a unique functional role. Their properties indicate, rather, that they represent a mechanism that maps the pictorial description of actions carried out in the higher order visual areas onto their motor counterpart. This matching mechanism may underlie a variety of functions. More details about specific functions served by mirror neurons are in this Scholarpedia article.

Learn more about mirror neurons in the video linked here and included below.