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Mirror Neuron System (mirror + neuron_system)
Selected AbstractsThe role of the superior temporal sulcus and the mirror neuron system in imitationHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 9 2010Pascal Molenberghs Abstract It has been suggested that in humans the mirror neuron system provides a neural substrate for imitation behaviour, but the relative contributions of different brain regions to the imitation of manual actions is still a matter of debate. To investigate the role of the mirror neuron system in imitation we used fMRI to examine patterns of neural activity under four different conditions: passive observation of a pantomimed action (e.g., hammering a nail); (2) imitation of an observed action; (3) execution of an action in response to a word cue; and (4) self-selected execution of an action. A network of cortical areas, including the left supramarginal gyrus, left superior parietal lobule, left dorsal premotor area and bilateral superior temporal sulcus (STS), was significantly active across all four conditions. Crucially, within this network the STS bilaterally was the only region in which activity was significantly greater for action imitation than for the passive observation and execution conditions. We suggest that the role of the STS in imitation is not merely to passively register observed biological motion, but rather to actively represent visuomotor correspondences between one's own actions and the actions of others. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effects of different viewing perspectives on somatosensory activations during observation of touchHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 9 2009Michael Schaefer Abstract Previous studies showed that neurons in the monkey premotor cortex became active when performing a particular action and also when observing the same action performed by others. These findings suggest a mirror system for action observation. Recently, bimodal neurons, sensitive both to visual and tactile stimulation, were reported in the parietal cortex, suggesting a potential mirror neuron system for observing and experiencing tactile stimulation. Subsequently, a mirror neuron system for observed touch has been suggested. The current study was designed to determine whether the activation of a sensory mirror system during touch observation is affected by possible attributions of the observed touch to oneself (subjective view) or to somebody else (objective view). In the study, healthy volunteers observed video clips of a touched or nontouched hand either in an egocentric or in an allocentric perspective during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results showed activation of somatosensory cortices when observing the hand being touched in egocentric as well as in the allocentric perspectives. Moreover, somatosensory responses differed depending on the perspective of the observed touch. We discuss the results in terms of a possible mirror neuron system for observed and experienced touch. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Frontal operculum temporal difference signals and social motor response learningHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 5 2009Poornima Kumar Abstract Substantial experimental evidence supports the theory that the dopaminergic system codes a phasic (short duration) signal predicting the delivery of primary reinforcers, such as water when thirsty, during Pavlovian learning. This signal is described by the temporal difference (TD) model. Recently, it has been suggested that the human dopaminergic system also codes more complex cognitive goal states, including those required for human social interaction. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with 18 healthy subjects, we tested the hypothesis that TD signals would be present during a Pavlovian learning task, and during a social motor response learning task. Using an identical model, TD signals were present in both tasks, although in different brain regions. Specifically, signals were present in the dorsal anterior cingulate, ventral striatum, amygdala, and thalamus with Pavlovian learning, and the dorsal anterior cingulate and bilateral frontal operculum with social motor response learning. The frontal operculum is believed to be the human homologue of the monkey mirror neuron system, and there is evidence which links the region with inference about other peoples' intentions and goals. The results support the contention that the human dopaminergic system predicts both primary reinforcers, and more complex cognitive goal states, such as motor responses required for human social group interaction. Dysfunction of such a mechanism might be associated with abnormal affective responses and incorrect social predictions, as occur in psychiatric disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] From imitation to conversation: the first dialogues with human neonatesINFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2006Emese Nagy Abstract The functional maturity of the newborn infant's brain, the resemblances between neonatal imitation and imitation in adults and the possibly lateralized neonatal imitation suggest that the mirror neuron system may contribute to neonatal imitation. Newborn infants not only imitate but also initiate previously imitated gestures, and are able to participate in overlapping imitation,initiation communicative cycles. Additionally, these social responses in neonates are faster than previously thought, and may enable them to have long-lasting intimate interactions much before language develops. Infants are equipped with a powerful, innate, reciprocal communicative ability already at birth. The earliest communication originates from imitation and this communicative ability presumably later evolves to language. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The clinical relevance of infancy: A progress reportINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2008Daniel Stern In the past few decades, findings from infant observations have played a key role in the following selected areas: (a) The emphasis now is on interpersonal and intersubjective processes rather than on intrapsychic processes. This is a paradigm shift towards a two-person psychology. (b) The elaboration of the attachment domain has reoriented our views of development and treatment. (c) The success of extended home-visiting programs as a preventive measure for parents and infants at risk has brought an agonizing reappraisal of what makes prevention (and therapy) work. (d) By default, the baby's world is nonverbal. This has led to a productive reexploration of unconsciousness, especially the domain of implicit knowledge. For the future, the following are some of the areas of great promise: (a) Attachment, love and "holding" must be disentangled. (b) We must study how and when the mirror neuron system gets micro- and macroregulated. One is not always open to empathic reception. (c) The articulation between the nonverbal (implicit) with the verbal (explicit) needs far more study. (d) The nonspecific factors of psychotherapy seem to be the most important in bringing about change and prevention. We need a greater systematic study of the nonspecific. (e) The triad and quartet, and so on need further exploration. (f) There are many more, but the beauty of research is that you can't know where it will go next. [source] Modulation of the human mirror neuron system during cognitive activityPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Suresh D. Muthukumaraswamy Abstract In this experiment we examined the relationship between the mirror neuron system and increased attention caused by task demands. Whole head MEG recordings were made from 13 participants who were asked to passively observe finger movement sequences, observe these sequences with the knowledge they would later have to perform the sequence presented, and finally, to perform a nonmotor mathematics task based on the finger-movement sequences. Beta-band (15,35 Hz) sensorimotor desynchronization was found in overlapping areas during passive observation and in a separate motor execution condition, indicating the activity of the human mirror neuron system. The beta desynchronization in these areas was enhanced relative to passive viewing when participants had to watch the stimuli to later imitate and when they performed the mathematics task, indicating that mirror neuron system activity can be modulated by attention. [source] Emotions in action through the looking glass,THE JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Corrado Sinigaglia Abstract:, The paper aims at highlighting how our primary understanding of others' actions is rooted in the mirror mechanism. To this end, the anatomical architecture of the mirror neuron system for action will be outlined as well as its role in grasping goals and intentions in others' motor behaviour. One further step through the looking glass of social cognition will be referring to the ubiquitous emotional colouring of actions and considering its links with the motor domain. This will allow a clearer perspective on the mechanism underlying our abilities for emotional understanding and on cases in which these abilities are amiss, as in autistic spectrum disorders. Translations of Abstract Cet article vise à mettre l'accent sur la manière dont notre compréhension primaire des actions d'autrui s'enracine dans le mécanisme du miroir. A ces fins, sera esquissée l'architecture anatomique du système neuronal de l'action, de même que son rôle dans la saisie des buts et intentions du comportement moteur de l'autre. Un pas supplémentaire à travers le miroir réfléchissant de la cognition sociale et sera abordée la question de la coloration émotionnelle inhérente aux actions et de ses liens avec le domaine moteur. Ceci nous fournira une perspective plus claire du mécanisme sous-tendant nos aptitudes à la compréhension émotionnelle, notamment dans les cas où de telles aptitudes font défaut, à savoir les troubles de la sphère de l'autisme. Der Text beleuchtet, wie unser primäres Verstehen des Handelns anderer im Spiegelmechanismus wurzelt. Hierzu wird die anatomische Architektur des Spiegelneuronensystems nachgezeichnet sowie dessen Rolle beim Erfassen von Zielen und Absichten aus dem motorischen Verhalten anderer. Ein weiterer Blick durch die Brille sozialen Erkennens richtet sich auf die ubiquitäre emotionale Färbung von Handlungen sowie deren Verbindung zur Domäne des Motorischen. Dieses ermöglicht eine deutliche Perspektive auf die Mechanismen, die unseren Fähigkeiten zu sozialem Verstehen zugrundeliegen wie auch auf die Fälle, in denen diese Fähigkeiten fehlen, wie etwa in den Störungen des Formenkreises des Autismus. Questo lavoro si propone di mettere in luce in che modo la comprensione primaria delle azioni degli altri si radichi nel meccanismo del rispecchiamento. A questo scopo verrà delineata l'architettura anatomica per l'azione del sistema dei neuroni specchio oltre al suo ruolo nell'afferrare le mete e le intenzioni nel comportamento motorio degli altri. Un ulteriore passo attraverso lo specchio della conoscenza sociale sarà il riferimento alla colorazione emotiva dotata di ubiquità delle azioni e il considerare i suoi legami con il campo motorio. Ciò permetterà una prospettiva più chiara del meccanismo sottostante le nostre capacità di comprensione emotiva e della sua assenza in certi casi, come nei disturbi dello spettro autistico. El objetivo de este trabajo en destacar cómo nuestra comprensión primaria de las acciones de otros están arraigadas en el mecanismo de espejo. A este fin, será resumida la arquitectura anatómica del sistema de neuronas de espejo para la acción así como su papel para logar los objetivos e intenciones en la conducta motriz de otros. Un paso adicional en el espejo de la cognición social se refiere al ubicuo colorido emocional de acciones teniendo en cuenta sus lazos con el dominio motriz. Esto permitirá una perspectiva más clara en los mecanismo fundamentales de nuestras capacidades para la comprensión emocional y en casos en los que estas capacidades están dañadas, como en el espectro los desórdenes autistas. [source] Unbroken mirror neurons in autism spectrum disordersTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 9 2010Yang-Teng Fan Background:, The ,broken mirror' theory of autism, which proposes that a dysfunction of the human mirror neuron system (MNS) is responsible for the core social and cognitive deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), has received considerable attention despite weak empirical evidence. Methods:, In this electroencephalographic study, we examined mu suppression, as an indicator of sensorimotor resonance, concurrent with oculomotor performance while individuals (n = 20) with ASD and control participants (n = 20) either executed hand actions or observed hand actions or a moving dot. No difference in visual attention between groups was found as indicated by fixation duration and normalized fixation number on the presented stimuli. Results:, The mu suppression over the sensorimotor cortex was significantly affected by experimental conditions, but not by group membership, nor by the interaction between groups and conditions. Individuals with ASD, similar to the controls, exhibited stronger mu suppression when watching hand actions relative to a moving dot. Notably, participants with ASD failed to imitate the observed actions while their mu suppression indicating the MNS activity was intact. In addition, the mu suppression during the observation of hand actions was positively associated with the communication competence of individuals with ASD. Conclusion:, Our study clearly challenges the broken mirror theory of autism. The functioning of the mirror neuron system might be preserved in individuals with ASD to a certain degree. Less mu suppression to action observation coupled with more communicational severity can reflect the symptom heterogeneity of ASD. Additional research needs to be done, and more caution should be used when reaching out to the media. [source] Interindividual Differences in Neonatal Imitation and the Development of Action Chains in Rhesus MacaquesCHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2009Pier Francesco Ferrari The capacity to imitate facial gestures is highly variable in rhesus macaques and this variability may be related to differences in specific neurobehavioral patterns of development. This study evaluated the differential neonatal imitative response of 41 macaques in relation to the development of sensory, motor, and cognitive skills throughout the 1st month of life. The results show that infants who imitate facial gestures display more developed skills in goal-directed movements (reaching,grasping and fine hand motor control) than nonimitators. These differences might reflect, at least in part, the differential maturation of motor chains in the parietal and motor cortices, which partly overlap with those of the mirror neuron system. Thus, neonatal imitation appears to be a predictor of future neurobehavioral development. [source] | ||||||||||