scholarly journals High-gamma mirror activity patterns in the human brain during reach-to-grasp movement observation, retention, and execution—An MEG study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260304
Author(s):  
Alexander M. Dreyer ◽  
Jochem W. Rieger
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Mirror System ◽  
Reach To Grasp ◽  
Scientific Debate ◽  
Movement Observation ◽  
Everyday Objects ◽  
High Gamma

While the existence of a human mirror neuron system is evident, the involved brain areas and their exact functional roles remain under scientific debate. A number of functionally different mirror neuron types, neurons that selectively respond to specific grasp phases and types for example, have been reported with single cell recordings in monkeys. In humans, spatially limited, intracranially recorded electrophysiological signals in the high-gamma (HG) range have been used to investigate the human mirror system, as they are associated with spiking activity in single neurons. Our goal here is to complement previous intracranial HG studies by using magnetoencephalography to record HG activity simultaneously from the whole head. Participants performed a natural reach-to-grasp movement observation and delayed imitation task with different everyday objects and grasp types. This allowed us to characterize the spatial organization of cortical areas that show HG-activation modulation during movement observation (mirroring), retention (mnemonic mirroring), and execution (motor control). Our results show mirroring related HG modulation patterns over bilateral occipito-parietal as well as sensorimotor areas. In addition, we found mnemonic mirroring related HG modulation over contra-lateral fronto-temporal areas. These results provide a foundation for further human mirror system research as well as possible target areas for brain-computer interface and neurorehabilitation approaches.

The mirror system in human and nonhuman primates

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy A. Orban
Keyword(s):  
Associative Learning ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Mirror System ◽  
Sensorimotor Learning ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Additional Testing

AbstractThe description of the mirror neuron system provided by Cook et al. is incomplete for the macaque, and incorrect for humans. This is relevant to exaptation versus associative learning as the underlying mechanism generating mirror neurons, and to the sensorimotor learning as evidence for the authors' viewpoint. The proposed additional testing of the mirror system in rodents is unrealistic.

Language and mirror neurons

2007 ◽  
pp. 770-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giacomo Rizzolatti ◽  
Laila Craighero
Keyword(s):  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Macaque Monkey ◽  
Mirror System ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Linguistic Communication ◽  
Intentional Communication ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Body Postures

Besides linguistic communication, which is at the core of human communication, humans communicate using arm gestures, body postures, facial expressions, eye contact, and head and body movements. Communication may be intentional or non-intentional. It is very plausible that intentional communication is an evolutionarily late development of non-intentional communication. In the motor cortex of the macaque monkey, it was discovered that there is a particular set of neurons that discharge both when the monkey observes a given motor act and when it does the same act. These neurons, called “mirror neurons,” represent a system that directly matches observed and executed actions. This article first provides an overview of the mirror neuron system in monkeys and then looks at its role in intention recognition. It also considers neurophysiological evidence of the mirror system in humans and discusses brain imaging studies of the human mirror system, the link between mirror neurons and language, the transition from gestures to sound, and the appearance of echo-mirror neurons.

Social Cognition in Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-249
Author(s):  
Ronja Weiblen ◽  
Melanie Jonas ◽  
Sören Krach ◽  
Ulrike M. Krämer
Keyword(s):  
Tourette Syndrome ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Decision Making System ◽  
Social Decision Making ◽  
Work Done

Abstract. Research on the neural mechanisms underlying Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) has mostly concentrated on abnormalities in basal ganglia circuits. Recent alternative accounts, however, focused more on social and affective aspects. Individuals with GTS show peculiarities in their social and affective domain, including echophenomena, coprolalia, and nonobscene socially inappropriate behavior. This article reviews the experimental and theoretical work done on the social symptoms of GTS. We discuss the role of different social cognitive and affective functions and associated brain networks, namely, the social-decision-making system, theory-of-mind functions, and the so-called “mirror-neuron” system. Although GTS affects social interactions in many ways, and although the syndrome includes aberrant social behavior, the underlying cognitive, affective, and neural processes remain to be investigated.

EEG Imaging of the Mirror Neuron System in Autism

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphael Bernier ◽  
Geraldine Dawson ◽  
Stanley Lunde
Keyword(s):  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neuron System

Activation of the mirror neuron system in treatment of aphasia

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Alka ◽  
J Klann ◽  
M Staedtgen ◽  
IG Meister ◽  
W Huber
Keyword(s):  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neuron System

scholarly journals The human mirror neuron system—A common neural basis for social cognition?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie N. L. Schmidt ◽  
Joachim Hass ◽  
Peter Kirsch ◽  
Daniela Mier
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
System A

scholarly journals Does dysfunction of the mirror neuron system contribute to symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (7) ◽  
pp. 1288-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Eisen ◽  
Roger Lemon ◽  
Matthew C. Kiernan ◽  
Michael Hornberger ◽  
Martin R. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Intentionality of movement: Mirror neuron system and theory of mind

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 2113-2113 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Borghi ◽  
F. Binkofski
Keyword(s):  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Action Understanding ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
Motor Representation ◽  
Neuron System ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Additional Explanation

The ability to understand intentions of actions performed by others is one of the prerequisites for social interaction. This ability has been attributed to our capacity to mentalize others’ behaviour, by simulating or predicting their mental states that would cause that behaviour and make it comprehensible. Brain imaging studies revealed the so called “mentalizng network” including the pSTS/TPJ, the temporal poles and the medial prefrontal cortex. This network gets constantly activated anytime we try to take the perspective of others or try to simulate their state of mind. On the other hand the discovery of mirror neurons has provided an additional explanation for understanding of the content of actions. The functional properties of these neurons point out that action understanding is primarily based on a mechanism that directly matches the sensory representation of perceived actions with one's own motor representation of the same actions. We provide evidence that both systems interact closely during the processing of intentionality of actions. Thus mentalizing is not the only form of intentional understanding and motor and intentional components of action are closely interwoven. Both systems play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

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