Empathy. Since our brain's hundreds of processing systems are highly interconnected, mirror neurons not only simulate the actions of others but also their related properties, such as the pain or pleasure that results from an action. We use the term empathy to describe this human ability to internalize the emotional state of others by simply observing their facial expressions and body language. Further, empathy can emerge through third party reports, such as news reports of the victims of natural disasters or accidents. We will almost always instantly recall and relive any similar experience we had.

Autism. It now appears that people who suffer from autism have a deficient mirror neuron system, and this would explain their inability to infer the thoughts and behaviors of others, and the difficulty they have in learning to speak. The presumed connection between the malady and mirror neurons opens up promising research possibilities into the diagnosis and treatment of autism.

Virtuoso Performance. Mirror neurons may also help to explain why so many of us enjoy observing and predicting the movements of virtuoso athletes, dancers, and musicians. Virtuoso performances allow our mirror neuron system to mentally model (and thus enjoy) actions that we can't physically mimic at that level. Note the related active body language of former athletes as they observe a game they once played, and their ability to see individual movements within the complexity of the action that the rest of us don't see. Further, athletes frequently use mental imagery to enhance their performance of specific practiced movement sequences.

Electronic Media. The mirror neuron system evidently works best when directly observing human behavior, but it apparently will also respond to televised and filmed human movements. This poses intriguing currently unresolved issues about the effect of the electronic depiction of violent and sexual behavior on the subsequent real life behavior of observers.