In a recent study, professional male dancers trained in either ballet or capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, were asked to watch videos of both dance styles. Their brains were scanned during the process and two areas  41  movement were focused – the pre-motor cortex and the visual-motor integration cortex. Both of the areas showed more activity when a skilled dancer saw movements he had been trained to perform, compared with watching movements he hadn’ t been trained to perform. The study also scanned the brains of those who were not dancers. It was found that there was no difference in their brain activity whether they watched ballet or capoeira.   42   , their brains did not discriminate. 

       The result shows that by lying still and simply watching others move, you can activate movement areas of the brain   43   you were moving yourself! These areas contain mirror neurons, which are believed to be vitally important to human behaviour – to interpret other people’s actions and intentions. They have probably been fundamental to our   44   , allowing us to imitate our parents and quickly transfer skills and culture to the next generation. Perhaps greater knowledge of this mirror system could help injured athletes and dancers. They can continue to train without moving a muscle – by simply watching someone else do the movements   45   their bodily injury recovers. There is also an appealing though completely untested idea that maybe disorders such as autism have something to do with disruption of these mirror neuron systems.