Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The mirror neuron system consists of a specific class of visuomotor neurons,
which fire for both observation and execution of an action (di Pellegrino et al., 1992), as
well as showing differences for empathy and gender. Fifty males (M = 25.94) and fifty
females (M = 25.48) watched short clips of a hand tapping fingers in a sequence in
neutral and emotional settings. Participants were asked to imitate emotions while
watching and repeating the finger sequences. A univariate ANOVA discovered
significant differences in response times for males and females in the emotion trials,
which were eliminated when empathy was included in the analysis. Findings show those
higher in empathy are faster at imitation of a motor task in emotional settings.
which fire for both observation and execution of an action (di Pellegrino et al., 1992), as
well as showing differences for empathy and gender. Fifty males (M = 25.94) and fifty
females (M = 25.48) watched short clips of a hand tapping fingers in a sequence in
neutral and emotional settings. Participants were asked to imitate emotions while
watching and repeating the finger sequences. A univariate ANOVA discovered
significant differences in response times for males and females in the emotion trials,
which were eliminated when empathy was included in the analysis. Findings show those
higher in empathy are faster at imitation of a motor task in emotional settings.
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