PSYC 363 - Mimicry and Mind-Reading: The Social Neuroscience of Understanding Others

Institution:

Williams College

Subject:

Psychology

Description:

Whether it is a returned smile from a passerby or a friend's commiserating frown, imitated facial expressions are ubiquitous in social interactions. Through an upturned lip corner or furrowed brow, we are able to rapidly decode what another person is feeling. In this course, we will examine the neural mechanisms that give rise to our ability to identify and empathize with the emotions we perceive in others. We will discuss the role of mirror neurons, perception-action mechanisms, mimicry, embodiment, and facial feedback in understanding the emotions of others. Finally, we will examine individual differences in this ability, including what happens when these mechanisms are impaired as a result of illness, paralysis, brain lesions, or in certain disorders, such as psychopathy, social conduct disorder, and autism.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Psychology 221 or 212 or 242 or permission of instructor

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Seminar

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.williams.edu

Phone Number:

(413) 597-3131

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Four-one-four plan

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