Oberman-L M Pineda-J A 2007 Eeg-Evidence-For-Mirror-Neuron-Activity-During-The-Observation-Of-Human-And-Robot-Actions-Toward-An-Analysis-Of-The-Human-Qualities-Of-Interactive-Robots Neurocomputing.pdf

ARTICLE IN PRESS
puting 70 (2007) 2194–2203
ate/
EEG evidence for mirror neuron activity during the
observation of human and robot actions: Toward an
analysis of the human qualities of interactive robots
Lindsay M. Obermana,b,Ã, Joseph P. McCleeryb,
Vilayanur S. Ramachandrana,b,c, Jaime A. Pinedac,d
aCenter for Brain and Cognition, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA
bDepartment of Psychology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA
cDepartment of Neurosciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0662, USA
dDepartment of Cognitive Science, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0515, USA
Received 4 February 2005; received in revised form 17 January 2006; accepted 1 February 2006
Available online 2 January 2007
Abstract
The current study investigated the properties of stimuli that lead to the activation of the human mirror neuron system, with an
emphasis on those that are critically relevant for the perception of humanoid robots. Results suggest that robot actions, even those
without objects, may activate the human mirror neuron system. Additionally, both volitional and nonvolitional human actions also
appear to activate the mirror neuron system to relatively the same degree. Results from the current studies leave open the opportunity to
use mirror neuron activation as a ‘Turing test’ for the development of truly humanoid robots.
r 2007 Elsevi