In the ventral premotor cortex (area F5) of the monkey there are neurons that discharge both when the monkey performs specific motor actions and when it observes another individual performing a similar action (mirror neurons). Previous studies on mirror neurons concerned hand actions. Here, we describe the mirror responses of F5 neurons that motorically code mouth actions. The results showed that about one-third of mouth motor neurons also discharge when the monkey observes another individual performing mouth actions. The majority of these 'mouth mirror neurons' become active during the execution and observation of mouth actions related to ingestive functions such as grasping, sucking or breaking food. Another population of mouth mirror neurons also discharges during the execution of ingestive actions, but the most effective visual stimuli in triggering them are communicative mouth gestures (e.g. lip smacking). Some also fire when the monkey makes communicative gestures. These findings extend the notion of mirror system from hand to mouth action and suggest that area F5, the area considered to be the homologue of human Broca's area, is also involved in communicative functions.
Katika ventral premotor cortex (F5) ya nyani kuna neurons ambayo discharge wote wakati nyani hufanya vitendo maalum motor na wakati yeye anaona mtu mwingine kufanya vitendo sawa (neurons kioo). Uchunguzi wa awali juu ya neva za kioo ulihusu matendo ya mikono. Katika kesi hii, tumekuwa tukijaribu kuelezea majibu ya kioo ya neuroni ya F5 ambayo huunda kazi za mdomo. Matokeo yalionyesha kwamba karibu theluthi moja ya neuroni za motor za mdomo pia hufungua wakati nyani anapotazama mtu mwingine akifanya vitendo vya mdomo. Wengi wa 'neuroni za kioo cha kinywa' hizi huanza kufanya kazi wakati wa kutekeleza na kuchunguza vitendo vya kinywa vinavyohusiana na kazi za kumeza kama vile kukamata, kunyonya au kuvunja chakula. Kwa mfano, neuroni za kioo za mdomo hutolewa wakati wa kutekeleza vitendo vya kula, lakini vichocheo vya kuona vinavyofanya kazi zaidi ni ishara za mdomo za mawasiliano. kupigwa kwa midomo). Baadhi yao pia hufyatua risasi wakati nyani anapofanya ishara za kuwasiliana. Utafiti huo unaonyesha kwamba eneo la F5 (ambalo linaonekana kuwa sawa na eneo la Broca) pia lina jukumu katika mawasiliano.