Νευροεπιστήμες στην Εκπαίδευση: Κατοπτρικοί νευρώνες και ενίσχυση της ενσυναισθητικής ικανότητας των μαθητών

Abstract

With the assistance of the Neurosciences it is possible to explore how students can be supported during the educational procedure so that they can use the whole of their learning abilities, but also how the learning procedure can be more effective for all students. In this paper, the research data on the neurobiological basis of empathy are reviewed. One important progress in the world of Neurosciences is the discovery of mirror neurons in the macaques’ brain and their connection to the empathic function in the early 1990s. It appears that mirror neurons, which are mainly found in the motor and sensory cortex, have some direct relation to the primal social skills of primates, including imitation, empathy, mind theory, and the development of language. It has been argued that empathy is not a single function but a whole of elements and is therefore distinguished in the following types: (a) emotional/affective empathy, involving the ability to feel the other person; (b) cognitive/evaluative empathy, involving the cognitive understanding of each other's view; and (c) motor empathy, referring to the unconscious reflection of the expressive movements of the observed person. Furthermore, activities that the teacher can use within the classroom and enhance students’ empathy are proposed. In conclusion, Neurosciences can be utilized in education and contribute in understanding the ways a student can acquire knowledge and cultivate his or her empathic skills.