Beyond Mirror Neurons - A Conversation with Greg Hickok

This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Greg Hickok, Professor of Cognitive science at UC Irvine, where he directs the Center for Language Science and the Auditory and Language Neuroscience Lab. This thought-provoking conversation examines Greg Hickok's neuroscience research related to speech and language which led him to eventually reject many aspects of the mirror neuron hypothesis, while giving his views on the mechanisms behind imitation and what mirror neurons really do. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, Monkey See, Monkey Don't, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:I. Talking Neuroscience - Speech, language and cognitionII. Enter Mirror Neurons - Grasping monkeys and old theoriesIII. One Size Fits All? - The kitchen sink of cognitive scienceIV. Imitation - What it is and what it isn'tV. Seeking a Controller - Structural investigationsVI. The Community Responds - Sceptics and believersVII. A Different Perspective - Prediction and sensory statesVIII. Sociological Explorations - The merits of primary sourcesIX. Neuroplasticity - Speculations on the underlying mechanismsX. On the Front Burner - Lots to investigateAbout Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series: This book is part of a series of 100 Ideas Roadshow Conversations. Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers, including 3 Nobel Laureates, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research.