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This review aims to summarize evidence on the mirror neuron system's relationship with pain, including pain empathy and rehabilitation.

January 25, 2026HealthcareOpen Access

Mirror Neurons and Pain: A Scoping Review of Experimental, Social, and Clinical Evidence

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This review aims to summarize evidence on the mirror neuron system's relationship with pain, including pain empathy and rehabilitation.
Conducted a scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute's framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
Searched databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO.
Included studies focusing on MNS-related mechanisms in pain processing and rehabilitation.
Synthesized findings descriptively and thematically.
Twenty-one studies met inclusion criteria, mainly from clinical and rehabilitative settings.
Most studies investigated mirror therapy or mirror visual feedback interventions.
Populations largely consisted of adults with chronic pain, especially phantom limb pain.
Pain intensity was predominantly assessed using self-reported clinical scales.
Considerable heterogeneity was identified in defining MNS constructs and methods.

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Scoping review maps the relationship between mirror neurons and pain, indicating key findings across diverse settings.

Cascella et al. (2026) studied this question.

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