Transcript Gestures, Communication and the Brain

Gestures, Communication and the Brain
New Perspectives in Neurolinguistic
Research and Communication Studies
Julia Elisa Melcher
The Discovery of the Mirror Neurons
 University of Parma:
Primate Research with
macaque monkeys
 Vittorio Gallese
 Giacomo Rizzolatti
 Leonardo Fogassi
The Discovery of the Mirror Neurons
 Particular class of visuo-motor
neurons
 Performance of action (motorneurons active in motor cortex
– action-control)
 Observation of same action
performed by another ape
(neurons discharging in same
area)
 Mirror neurons `mirror´
perceived actions
 Mirror system can be trained!
(plasticity of the brain)
The Discovery of the Mirror Neurons
 Mirror System in Humans:
 Also Broca´s area involved –
hand movements (gestures,
non-verbal language)
 Processing (observation) and
imitation of gestures
 „Activation of Broca´s during
the observation of hand
actions could be interpreted as
reflecting verbal mediation.“
(Rizzolatti et al.)
 Premotor cortex, insular cortex
and somatosensory cortex –
understanding of emotions,
empathy
The Discovery of the Mirror Neurons
 Understanding of actions
 Understanding of others´
emotions and intentions
(body language, voice, facial
expressions …)
 Empathy
 Imitation
 Darwin: „The Expression of the
Emotions in Man and Animals“
(1872)
 Goal-related actions, learning
social behavior, manipulation
of others (cheating), fairness,
mentalizing
NLP – Neurolinguistic Programming
 University of California, Santa Cruz
 Richard Bandler (mathematician, psychologist)
 John Grinder (linguist)
Noam Chomsky – transformational grammar
Albert Bandura - `social learning theory´, behaviorist
Gregory Bateson – cybernetic theory
Fritz Perls (Gestalt-therapy), Virginia Satir (Systemic Family
Therapy), Milton Erickson (Hypnotherapy)
 …




 http://www.vimeo.com/3762135
NLP – Neurolinguistic Programming
* NLP in use (Media)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTIw7FEg85E
* Conclusion:
Broad field of linguistic study on human language
& cognition and language & social behavior from
various perspectives 
Sources:
NLP-psychotherapy, Coaching, Mediation
http://www.nlpzentrum.at/
http://www.oedv-nlp.at/
 Rizzolatti, Fogassi, Gallese: Neuropsychological
mechanisms underlying the understanding and
imitation of actions
 Blakemore, Winston, Frith: Social cognitive
neuroscience: Where are we hading?