Embodied Simulation, Mirror Neurons, and the Reenactment of Trauma in Early Childhood

The question of why children would repeatedly replicate painful, frightening events in their behavior or play, often in very destructive ways, has long challenged clinicians and researchers alike. The recent identification of “mirror neurons” in the premotor cortex of macaque monkeys and the ongoing elucidation of their role in facilitating empathic resonance with, and imitation of, the observed actions of others in both monkeys and humans have opened up new perspectives on this question. Initially, an overview of post-traumatic reenactment behaviors as they are manifested in young children is presented, highlighting important developmental and therapeutic issues that such behavior raises. Next, recent research on embodiment, early imitation, and mirror neuron functioning is reviewed, with an emphasis on those aspects most relevant to the clinical manifestations of early trauma. The significance of this recent research for furthering our understanding of the mechanisms underlying posttraumatic reenactment is outlined. In addition, some of the implications of this research for our understanding of the nature of early traumatic memories, the availability of such memories for conscious processing, and the role of such memories in the reenactment of preverbal trauma are described. Finally, the clinical implications of this work for the fashioning of effective therapeutic interventions is discussed.