There was a relatively recent (1990s) discovery in our brains, a type of neuron now known as mirror neurons. In a nutshell, these neurons fire when you watch someone do something, but then they also fire when you do the action yourself.
Scientists think your mirror neurons develop before you are a year old. Their purpose is thought to be in both recognizing an action and understanding the intention of that action. Mirror neurons play a part in a person’s emotions and empathy and help us relate to and understand each other.
There is a theory that a mirror neuron abnormality could be involved in autistic conditions, such as language issues, social contact, and self-awareness.
Mirror neurons help you “read” other people; they help you sense someone’s feelings and predict that person’s behavior. For example, a friend of mine was talking to her neighbor before the election. This neighbor adamantly told my friend who to vote for and my friend said she would, though she had no real intention of doing that. When my friend told me the story, she was befuddled as to her own behavior. I totally understood why she would do what she did; I think she was instinctively protecting herself and her child.
Mirror neurons may also be used in a meta way, turned inward for self-awareness.