Anatomy and Physiology of the Mirror Neuron System

In this article, we treat the mirror neuron system defined as a set of brain regions active both when an individual performs an action and when he or she perceives another individual performing a similar action. In particular, we examine the mirror neuron network in monkeys considering the cortical regions involved in this mechanism and their connections, as well as their functional properties studied using single-neuron recording. In addition, we report the evidence for the existence of a mirror neuron system in humans, as revealed by transcranial magnetic stimulation studies.