¹Assoc. Prof. Pamir DİRİL, ²Vehbi Çimen

¹St. Clements University/Department of Psychology Lecturer/Turkey ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8913-343X

²St. Clements University / Psychology Department Doctoral Student ORCID ID: 0009-0002-8009-9209

DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2025.v4i10n13

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ABSTRACT

Mirror neurons are highly unique cells found in specific regions of the human brain that simulate the actions and behaviours of others within our own neural circuits. These neurons form a critical component of social interactions by providing an automatic, rapid, and effective response to external events through observation. Conceptually, the fundamental role of mirror neurons can be summarised as understanding the intentions, emotions, and actions of others, while also enabling empathy with them. The functioning of this system effectively supports social learning and imitation processes by ensuring that visual and auditory stimuli are successfully matched by the brain. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), on the other hand, is a challenging condition in which impairments in this complex system manifest themselves with specific clinical characteristics. In individuals with autism, significant difficulties in social communication and interaction skills, such as avoiding eye contact and difficulty understanding facial expressions, present themselves. In this context, impairments in the functions of mirror neurons play a crucial role in individuals with autism, particularly in empathy and the processing of facial expressions. Therefore, the anatomy and functions of the mirror neuron system are of critical importance in understanding social processing problems associated with autism. In particular, an in-depth examination of the neurobiology of this system sheds important light on developmental stages and learning processes, contributing to the understanding of the subject.

KEYWORDS:

Neurons, establishing empathy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anatomy and functions, linking to autism, neurobiology

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VOlUME 04 ISSUE 10 OCTOBER 2025