Editing Mirror neuron (section)

===Motor mimicry===
In contrast with automatic imitation, [[motor mimicry]] is observed in (1) naturalistic social situations and (2) via measures of action frequency within a session rather than measures of speed and/or accuracy within trials.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Chartrand TL, Bargh JA | title = The chameleon effect: the perception-behavior link and social interaction | journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | volume = 76 | issue = 6 | pages = 893–910 | date = June 1999 | pmid = 10402679 | doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.76.6.893 | s2cid = 11818459 }}</ref>

The integration of research on motor mimicry and automatic imitation could reveal plausible indications that these phenomena depend on the same psychological and neural processes. Preliminary evidence however comes from studies showing that social priming has similar effects on motor mimicry.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Lakin JL, Chartrand TL | title = Using nonconscious behavioral mimicry to create affiliation and rapport | journal = Psychological Science | volume = 14 | issue = 4 | pages = 334–339 | date = July 2003 | pmid = 12807406 | doi = 10.1111/1467-9280.14481 | s2cid = 8458849 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = van Baaren RB, Maddux WW, Chartrand TL, de Bouter C, van Knippenberg A | title = It takes two to mimic: behavioral consequences of self-construals | journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | volume = 84 | issue = 5 | pages = 1093–1102 | date = May 2003 | pmid = 12757151 | doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.84.5.1093 | s2cid = 729948 | hdl = 2066/63130 | hdl-access = free }}</ref>

Nevertheless, the similarities between automatic imitation, mirror effects, and motor mimicry have led some researchers to propose that automatic imitation is mediated by the mirror neuron system and that it is a tightly controlled laboratory equivalent of the motor mimicry observed in naturalistic social contexts. If true, then automatic imitation can be used as a tool to investigate how the mirror neuron system contributes to cognitive functioning and how motor mimicry promotes prosocial attitudes and behavior.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Heyes C | title = Automatic imitation | journal = Psychological Bulletin | volume = 137 | issue = 3 | pages = 463–483 | date = May 2011 | pmid = 21280938 | doi = 10.1037/a0022288 | s2cid = 6975248 }}</ref><ref name="pmid19679816">{{cite journal | vauthors = Paukner A, Suomi SJ, Visalberghi E, Ferrari PF | title = Capuchin monkeys display affiliation toward humans who imitate them | journal = Science | volume = 325 | issue = 5942 | pages = 880–883 | date = August 2009 | pmid = 19679816 | pmc = 2764469 | doi = 10.1126/science.1176269 | bibcode = 2009Sci...325..880P }}</ref>

Meta-analysis of imitation studies in humans suggest that there is enough evidence of mirror system activation during imitation that mirror neuron involvement is likely, even though no published studies have recorded the activities of singular neurons. However, it is likely insufficient for motor imitation. Studies show that regions of the frontal and parietal lobes that extend beyond the classical mirror system are equally activated during imitation. This suggests that other areas, along with the mirror system are crucial to imitation behaviors.<ref name="pmid19580913"/>