Mirror Neurons in a Group Analysis “Hall of Mirrors”: Translation as a Rhetorical Approach to Neurodisciplinary Writing

Abstract

This article examines how mirror neuron research from the neurosciences is incorporated by the field of group analysis and made to fit within the history and practices of the field. The approach taken is from science and technology studies’ discussion of “translation” across actor-networks. The article ends with the suggestion that a translation analysis indicates good reason for rhetoric and writing scholars to consider “multiple ontologies” and to understand neurodisciplinary work as invention.

Keywords:

• actor-network theory
• mirror neurons
• multiple ontologies
• neurosciences
• translation

Notes

The term neurodiscipline is often self-applied by fields. I am using the term to describe nonneuroscience fields that actively incorporate neuroscience findings specifically to define or build theories and practices, regardless of whether they self-identify this way or not.

Although mirror neurons are commonly said to simulate the sensed visual environment or to “mirror” the environment internally, some researchers argue they might not mirror at all but, rather, be predictive mechanisms (see Jacob, 2008; Lingnau, Gesierich, & Caramazza, 2009).

Summon database is used as the primary library search engine for a large Southeastern university in the U.S. Using Summon, the search was applied across all disciplines and organized by relevance. Relevance is determined through a complex algorithm that, for the Summon database—like most databases that draw on other databases, is a closely guarded market secret. An attempt to acquire the algorithm through the university library representative was made, and the request was denied. Nevertheless, the articles appearing in the Summon search results were compared with the citations in the sampled articles, that is, the researcher tried to locate similar articles from that field by examining the citations in the articles delivered by Summon to discover whether the Summon database provided those other articles as well. The general impression of this researcher was that the Summon database provided good coverage of articles applying mirror neurons.

Most of the initial 394 articles in the text sample came from the neurosciences or biology. For the purpose of writing about one field's close textual analysis of translation, those were thrown out of the sample.

Of course, close text analysis is not all rhetorical scholars do; the comment is not intended to overlook material rhetorics or nonhuman rhetorics and considerations of bodies and affects.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David R. Gruber

David R. Gruber is an assistant professor in the Department of English at City University of Hong Kong. He has published in Media History, Visual Communication Quarterly, POROI, and Ctheory.