scholarly journals Enhanced mirroring upon mutual gaze: multimodal evidence from TMS-assessed corticospinal excitability and the EEG mu rhythm

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jellina Prinsen ◽  
Kaat Alaerts
Keyword(s):  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Hand Movement ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
Mu Suppression ◽  
Gating Mechanism ◽  
Averted Gaze

AbstractPrevious research has demonstrated that eye contact between actor and observer specifically enhances the ‘mirroring’ of others’ actions, as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs). However, it remains unknown whether other markers of mirror system activation, such as suppression of the EEG mu rhythm (8–13 Hz) over the sensorimotor strip, are also susceptible to perceived eye contact. Here, both TMS-induced MEPs and EEG mu suppression indices were assessed (in separate sessions) while 32 participants (mean age: 24y; 8m) observed a simple hand movement combined with direct or averted gaze from the actor. Both measures were significantly modulated by perceived eye gaze during action observation; showing an increase in MEP amplitude and an attenuation of the mu rhythm during direct vs. averted gaze. Importantly, while absolute MEP and mu suppression scores were not related, a significant association was identified between gaze-related changes in MEPs and mu suppression, indicating that both measures are similarly affected by the modulatory impact of gaze cues. Our results suggest that although the neural substrates underlying TMS-induced MEPs and the EEG mu rhythm may differ, both are sensitive to the social relevance of the observed actions, which might reflect a similar neural gating mechanism.

scholarly journals Enhanced mirroring upon mutual gaze: Multimodal evidence from TMS-assessed corticospinal excitability and the EEG mu rhythm

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jellina Prinsen ◽  
Kaat Alaerts
Keyword(s):  
Action Observation ◽  
Hand Movement ◽  
Stimulus Person ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Mirror System ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Mu Suppression ◽  
Motor Cortex Excitability ◽  
System Functioning ◽  
Averted Gaze

AbstractEye-to-eye contact is a salient cue for regulating everyday social interaction and communication. Previous research has demonstrated that direct eye contact between actor and observer specifically enhances the ‘mirroring’ of others’ actions in the observer, as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs; an index of motor cortex excitability during action observation). However, it remains unknown whether other markers of mirror system activation, such as suppression of the EEG mu rhythm (i.e. attenuation of neural oscillations in the 8-13 Hz frequency band over the sensorimotor strip), are also susceptible to perceived eye contact. In the current study, a multimodal approach was adopted to assess both TMS-induced MEPs and EEG mu suppression (in separate sessions), while 32 participants (20 men; mean age: 24;8 years) observed a simple hand movement in combination with direct or averted gaze from the live stimulus person. Both indices of mirror system functioning were significantly modulated by perceived eye gaze; showing a significant increase in MEP amplitude and a significant attenuation of the mu rhythm when movement observation was accompanied with direct compared to averted gaze. Importantly, while inter-individual differences in absolute MEP and mu suppression scores were not significantly related, a significant association was identified between gaze-related changes in MEP responses and mu suppression. As such, it appears that while the neurophysiological substrates underlying mu suppression and TMS-induced MEP responses differ, both are similarly affected by the modulatory impact of gaze-related cues. In sum, our results suggest that both EEG mu rhythm and TMS-induced MEPs are sensitive to the social relevance of the observed actions, and that a similar neural substrate may drive gaze-related changes in these distinct markers of mirror system functioning.

scholarly journals EEG-Based Evidence of Mirror Neuron Activity from App-Mediated Stroke Patient Observation

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 979
Author(s):  
Jin-Cheol Kim ◽  
Hyun-Min Lee
Keyword(s):  
Daily Life ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neuron Activity ◽  
Significant Activity ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Mu Suppression ◽  
Observation Training

Background and Objectives: The mirror neuron system in the sensorimotor region of the cerebral cortex is equally activated during both action observation and execution. Action observation training mimics the functioning of the mirror neuron system, requiring patients to watch and imitate the actions necessary to perform activities of daily living. StrokeCare is a user-friendly application based on the principles of action observation training, designed to assist people recovering from stroke. Therefore, when observing the daily life behavior provided in the StrokeCare app, whether the MNS is activated and mu inhibition appears. Materials and Methods: We performed electroencephalography (EEG) on 24 patients with chronic stroke (infarction: 11, hemorrhage: 13) during tasks closely related to daily activities, such as dressing, undressing, and walking. The StrokeCare app provided action videos for patients to watch. Landscape imagery observation facilitated comparison among tasks. We analyzed the mu rhythm from the C3, CZ, and C4 regions and calculated the mean log ratios for comparison of mu suppression values. Results: The EEG mu power log ratios were significantly suppressed during action observation in dressing, undressing, walking, and landscape conditions, in decreasing order. However, there were no significant activity differences in the C3, C4 and CZ regions. The dressing task showed maximum suppression after a color spectrum was used to map the relative power values of the mu rhythm for each task. Conclusions: These findings reveal that the human mirror neuron system was more strongly activated during observation of actions closely related to daily life activities than landscape images.

scholarly journals Modulation of intracortical inhibition during physically performed and mentally simulated balance tasks

2021 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 1379-1388
Author(s):  
A. Mouthon ◽  
J. Ruffieux ◽  
W. Taube
Keyword(s):  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Short Interval ◽  
Intracortical Inhibition ◽  
Mental Simulation ◽  
Task Execution ◽  
Postural Tasks ◽  
Execution Condition ◽  
The One ◽  
Postural Task

Abstract Purpose Action observation (AO) during motor imagery (MI), so-called AO + MI, has been proposed as a new form of non-physical training, but the neural mechanisms involved remains largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to explore whether there were similarities in the modulation of short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) during execution and mental simulation of postural tasks, and if there was a difference in modulation of SICI between AO + MI and AO alone. Method 21 young adults (mean ± SD = 24 ± 6.3 years) were asked to either passively observe (AO) or imagine while observing (AO + MI) or physically perform a stable and an unstable standing task, while motor evoked potentials and SICI were assessed in the soleus muscle. Result SICI results showed a modulation by condition (F2,40 = 6.42, p = 0.009) with less SICI in the execution condition compared to the AO + MI (p = 0.009) and AO (p = 0.002) condition. Moreover, switching from the stable to the unstable stance condition reduced significantly SICI (F1,20 = 8.34, p = 0.009) during both, physically performed (− 38.5%; p = 0.03) and mentally simulated balance (− 10%, p < 0.001, AO + MI and AO taken together). Conclusion The data demonstrate that SICI is reduced when switching from a stable to a more unstable standing task during both real task execution and mental simulation. Therefore, our results strengthen and further support the existence of similarities between executed and mentally simulated actions by showing that not only corticospinal excitability is similarly modulated but also SICI. This proposes that the activity of the inhibitory cortical network during mental simulation of balance tasks resembles the one during physical postural task execution.

scholarly journals What Makes Eye Contact Special? Neural Substrates of On-Line Mutual Eye-Gaze: A Hyperscanning fMRI Study

eNeuro ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. ENEURO.0284-18.2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiko Koike ◽  
Motofumi Sumiya ◽  
Eri Nakagawa ◽  
Shuntaro Okazaki ◽  
Norihiro Sadato
Keyword(s):  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Neural Substrates ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
On Line

scholarly journals Calculation and Analysis of Microstate Related to Variation in Executed and Imagined Movement of Force of Hand Clenching

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfa Fu ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Xin Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Grip Force ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Hand Movement ◽  
Local Maximum ◽  
Topographic Map ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Global Field Power ◽  
Frequency Bands ◽  
Microstate Analysis ◽  
Imagined Movement

Objective. In order to investigate electroencephalogram (EEG) instantaneous activity states related to executed and imagined movement of force of hand clenching (grip force: 4 kg, 10 kg, and 16 kg), we utilized a microstate analysis in which the spatial topographic map of EEG behaves in a certain number of discrete and stable global brain states. Approach. Twenty subjects participated in EEG collection; the global field power of EEG and its local maximum were calculated and then clustered using cross validation and statistics; the 4 parameters of each microstate (duration, occurrence, time coverage, and amplitude) were calculated from the clustering results and statistically analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA); finally, the relationship between the microstate and frequency band was analyzed. Main Results. The experimental results showed that all microstates related to executed and imagined grip force tasks were clustered into 3 microstate classes (A, B, and C); these microstates generally transitioned from A to B and then from B to C. With the increase of the target value of executed and imagined grip force, the duration and time coverage of microstate B gradually decreased, while these parameters of microstate C gradually increased. The occurrence times of microstate B and C related to executed grip force were significantly more than those related to imagined grip force; furthermore, the amplitudes of these 3 microstates related to executed grip force were significantly greater than those related to imagined grip force. The correlation coefficients between the microstates and the frequency bands indicated that the microstates were correlated to mu rhythm and beta frequency bands, which are consistent with event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) phenomena of sensorimotor rhythm. Significance. It is expected that this microstate analysis may be used as a new method for observing EEG instantaneous activity patterns related to variation in executed and imagined grip force and also for extracting EEG features related to these tasks. This study may lay a foundation for the application of executed and imagined grip force training for rehabilitation of hand movement disorders in patients with stroke in the future.

Mirror-neuron system recruitment by action observation: Effects of focal brain damage on mu suppression

NeuroImage ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 87 ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvi Frenkel-Toledo ◽  
Shlomo Bentin ◽  
Anat Perry ◽  
Dario G. Liebermann ◽  
Nachum Soroker
Keyword(s):  
Brain Damage ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Mu Suppression

scholarly journals Motor system recruitment during action observation: No correlation between mu-rhythm desynchronization and corticospinal excitability

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. e0207476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia M. Lapenta ◽  
Elisabetta Ferrari ◽  
Paulo S. Boggio ◽  
Luciano Fadiga ◽  
Alessandro D’Ausilio
Keyword(s):  
Motor System ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Corticospinal Excitability ◽  
Mu Rhythm

scholarly journals Eye contact during joint attention with a humanoid robot modulates oscillatory brain activity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyveli Kompatsiari ◽  
Francesco Bossi ◽  
Agnieszka Wykowska
Keyword(s):  
Joint Attention ◽  
Humanoid Robot ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Brain Response ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Gaze Cueing ◽  
Human Partner ◽  
Oscillatory Brain Activity

Eye contact established by a human partner has been shown to affect various cognitive processes of the receiver. However, little is known about humans’ responses to eye contact established by a humanoid robot. Here, we aimed at examining humans’ oscillatory brain response to eye contact with a humanoid robot. Eye contact (or lack thereof) was embedded in a gaze cueing task and preceded the phase of gaze-related attentional orienting. In addition to examining the effect of eye contact on the recipient, we also tested its impact on gaze cueing effects. Results showed that participants rated eye contact as more engaging and responded with higher desynchronization of alpha-band activity in left fronto-central and central electrode clusters when the robot established eye contact with them, compared to no eye contact condition. However, eye contact did not modulate gaze cueing effects. The results are interpreted in terms of the functional roles involved in alpha central rhythms (potentially interpretable also as mu rhythm), including joint attention and engagement in social interaction.

scholarly journals Action Observation Treatment-Based Exoskeleton (AOT-EXO) for Upper Extremity After Stroke: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zejian Chen ◽  
Nan Xia ◽  
Chang He ◽  
Minghui Gu ◽  
Jiang Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Motor Deficit ◽  
Robot Assisted ◽  
Clinical Trial Registry ◽  
Resting Motor Threshold

Abstract Background Stroke produces multiple symptoms, including sensory, motor, cognitive and psychological dysfunctions, among which motor deficit is the most common and is widely recognized as a major contributor to long-term functional disability. Robot-assisted training is effective in promoting upper extremity muscle strength and motor impairment recovery after stroke. Additionally, action observation treatment can enhance the effects of physical and occupational therapy by increasing neural activation. The AOT-EXO trial aims to investigate whether action observation treatment coupled with robot-assisted training could enhance motor circuit activation and improve upper extremity motor outcomes. Methods The AOT-EXO trial is a multicentre, prospective, three-group randomized controlled trial (RCT). We will screen and enrol 132 eligible patients in the trial implemented in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Tongji Hospital, Optical Valley Branch of Tongji Hospital and Hubei Province Hospital of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine in Wuhan, China. Prior to study participation, written informed consent will be obtained from eligible patients in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The enrolled stroke patients will be randomised to three groups: the CT group (conventional therapy); EXO group (exoskeleton therapy) and AOT-EXO group (action observation treatment-based exoskeleton therapy). The patients will undergo blinded assessments at baseline, post-intervention (after 4 weeks) and follow-up (after 12 weeks). The primary outcome will be the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE). Secondary outcomes will include the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), modified Barthel Index (MBI), kinematic metrics assessed by inertial measurement unit (IMU), resting motor threshold (rMT), motor evoked potentials (MEP), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and safety outcomes. Discussion This trial will provide evidence regarding the feasibility and efficacy of the action observation treatment-based exoskeleton (AOT-EXO) for post-stroke upper extremity rehabilitation and elucidate the potential underlying kinematic and neurological mechanisms. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR1900026656. Registered on 17 October 2019.

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