fMRI Adaptation between Action Observation and Action Execution Reveals Cortical Areas with Mirror Neuron Properties in Human BA 44/45

Objective. To evaluate the concurrent and training effects of action observation (AO) and action execution with mirror visual feedback (MVF) on the activation of the mirror neuron system (MNS) and its relationship with the activation of the motor cortex in stroke individuals. Methods. A literature search using CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline, Web of Science, and SCOPUS to find relevant studies was performed. Results. A total of 19 articles were included. Two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies reported that MVF could activate the ipsilesional primary motor cortex as well as the MNS in stroke individuals, whereas two other fMRI studies found that the MNS was not activated by MVF in stroke individuals. Two clinical trials reported that long-term action execution with MVF induced a shift of activation toward the ipsilesional hemisphere. Five fMRI studies showed that AO activated the MNS, of which, three found the activation of movement-related areas. Five electroencephalography (EEG) studies demonstrated that AO or MVF enhanced mu suppression over the sensorimotor cortex. Conclusions. MVF may contribute to stroke recovery by revising the interhemispheric imbalance caused by stroke due to the activation of the MNS. AO may also promote motor relearning in stroke individuals by activating the MNS and motor cortex.

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A proposed EEG study: the role of object affordance during action observation

IU Journal of Undergraduate Research ◽

10.14434/iujur.v3i1.23356 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 44-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rebecca Elisabeth Hailperin-Lausch

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Incongruent Condition ◽

Mu Rhythm ◽

Action Execution ◽

Eeg Data ◽

Object Affordance ◽

Electroencephalogram Eeg

Over the past two decades, research on the human mirror neuron system (MNS) has flourished. According to this model, there is substantial evidence that both action execution and action observation activate the motor system. However, to date, few studies have attempted to examine the role that object affordance may have during action observation. The proposed study attempts to assess this and other issues by having participants watch videos of an actor making goal-directed reaches to a common household object. In the congruent condition, the actor makes a reach and grasps the handle of a mug. In the affordance incongruent condition, the actor makes a reach but grasps the side of the mug opposite from the handle. Electroencephalogram (EEG) will be recorded throughout participant viewing and the EEG data will be decomposed into frequency bands using a Morlet wavelet analysis. The mu rhythm (8-13 Hz) will be of particular interest. Electrode sites of interest include sites over the central parietal areas as well as frontal sites. It is hoped that the proposed study will provide insight into the role of object affordance during action observation.

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Action execution engages human mirror neuron system more than action observation

Neuroreport ◽

10.1097/wnr.0b013e3283385910 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 432-435 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Christopher Chad Woodruff ◽

Shannon Maaske

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Action Execution ◽

Neuron System

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Do gaze behaviours during action observation predict interpersonal motor resonance?

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience ◽

10.1093/scan/nsaa106 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Soukayna Bekkali ◽

George J Youssef ◽

Peter H Donaldson ◽

Jason He ◽

Michael Do ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motor Evoked Potentials ◽

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Motor Resonance ◽

Action Execution ◽

Neuron System ◽

Biologically Relevant ◽

First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle ◽

Dorsal Interosseous Muscle

Abstract Interpersonal motor resonance (IMR) is a common putative index of the mirror neuron system (MNS), a network containing specialised cells that fire during both action execution and observation. Visual content inputs to the MNS, however, it is unclear whether visual behaviours mediate the putative MNS response. We aimed to examine gaze effects on IMR during action observation. Neurotypical adults (N = 99; 60 female) underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation, electromyography, and eye-tracking during the observation of videos of actors performing grasping actions. IMR was measured as a percentage change in motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of the first dorsal interosseous muscle during action observation relative to baseline. MEP facilitation was observed during action observation, indicating IMR (65.43%, SE = 11.26%, P < 0.001). Fixations occurring in biologically relevant areas (face/hand/arm) yielded significantly stronger IMR (81.03%, SE = 14.15%) than non-biological areas (63.92%, SE = 14.60, P = 0.012). This effect, however, was only evident in the first of four experimental blocks. Our results suggest that gaze fixation can modulate IMR, but this may be affected by the salience and novelty of the observed action. These findings have important methodological implications for future studies in both clinical and healthy populations.

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Top-down contextual requirement to suppress self-movement influences grasp-specific modulation of corticospinal excitability during action observation

10.1101/2020.06.25.171629 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Steven J. Jerjian ◽

Marco Davare ◽

Alexander Kraskov

Keyword(s):

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Single Pulse ◽

Baseline Period ◽

Corticospinal Excitability ◽

Reach To Grasp ◽

Top Down ◽

Action Execution ◽

Recruitment Pattern

ABSTRACTAction observation modulates corticospinal excitability (CSE) measured via TMS in humans, which presumably exposes the effect of mirror neuron activation on corticospinal pathways. These responses can consist of both facilitation and suppression, and the balance of these two may restrict the outflow of activity into movement. Evidence also suggests that task context can considerably influence CSE changes during action observation.Here, we assessed whether embedding action observation within a Go-NoGo paradigm, which emphasizes movement withholding on observation and NoGo trials, influenced CSE modulation. Fourteen healthy subjects received single pulse TMS over left primary motor cortex (M1) during a baseline period, grasp observation onset, or after a NoGo cue, while performing, observing, or withholding two distinct reach-to-grasp actions. We assessed modulation of MEPs in three intrinsic hand muscles, which were recruited in a grasp-specific manner during action execution.Although CSE during the task generally increased relative to a pre-task baseline, modulation of grasp observation MEPs relative to an intra-task baseline was limited, and predominantly suppressive in nature both during grasp and NoGo. Seven subjects performed the same task without the NoGo condition (“Go only” block) immediately before the “Go & NoGo” block. Although this still failed to produce overall facilitation, we found evidence for grasp-specific modulation of CSE, which matched the recruitment pattern of the muscles during action execution. Within these subjects, modulation was attenuated when the NoGo condition was introduced, but was still distinct from modulation in the first group.These results suggest that bottom-up grasp-specific modulation of MEPs during action observation is attenuated by the top-down contextual requirement to suppress self-movement, and facilitation and suppression effects may be determined by the balance between these two processes.

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Action observation treatment: a novel tool in neurorehabilitation

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2013.0185 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 369 (1644) ◽

pp. 20130185 ◽

Cited By ~ 131

Author(s):

Giovanni Buccino

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Freezing Of Gait ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Action Execution ◽

Neurophysiological Mechanism ◽

Motor Functions ◽

Randomized Controlled Studies ◽

Orthopaedic Patients ◽

Matching Mechanism

This review focuses on a novel rehabilitation approach known as action observation treatment (AOT). It is now a well-accepted notion in neurophysiology that the observation of actions performed by others activates in the perceiver the same neural structures responsible for the actual execution of those same actions. Areas endowed with this action observation–action execution matching mechanism are defined as the mirror neuron system. AOT exploits this neurophysiological mechanism for the recovery of motor impairment. During one typical session, patients observe a daily action and afterwards execute it in context. So far, this approach has been successfully applied in the rehabilitation of upper limb motor functions in chronic stroke patients, in motor recovery of Parkinson's disease patients, including those presenting with freezing of gait, and in children with cerebral palsy. Interestingly, this approach also improved lower limb motor functions in post-surgical orthopaedic patients. AOT is well grounded in basic neuroscience, thus representing a valid model of translational medicine in the field of neurorehabilitation. Moreover, the results concerning its effectiveness have been collected in randomized controlled studies, thus being an example of evidence-based clinical practice.

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Using Functional Connectivity to Examine the Correlation between Mirror Neuron Network and Autistic Traits in a Typically Developing Sample: A fNIRS Study

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11030397 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 397

Author(s):

Thien Nguyen ◽

Helga O. Miguel ◽

Emma E. Condy ◽

Soongho Park ◽

Amir Gandjbakhche

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Action Observation ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Autistic Traits ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Neuron Network ◽

Action Execution ◽

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Mirror neuron network (MNN) is associated with one’s ability to recognize and interpret others’ actions and emotions and has a crucial role in cognition, perception, and social interaction. MNN connectivity and its relation to social attributes, such as autistic traits have not been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to investigate functional connectivity in the MNN and assess relationship between MNN connectivity and subclinical autistic traits in neurotypical adults. Hemodynamic responses, including oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin were measured in the central and parietal cortex of 30 healthy participants using a 24-channel functional Near-Infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system during a live action-observation and action-execution task. Functional connectivity was derived from oxy-hemoglobin data. Connections with significantly greater connectivity in both tasks were assigned to MNN connectivity. Correlation between connectivity and autistic traits were performed using Pearson correlation. Connections within the right precentral, right supramarginal, left inferior parietal, left postcentral, and between left supramarginal-left angular regions were identified as MNN connections. In addition, individuals with higher subclinical autistic traits present higher connectivity in both action-execution and action-observation conditions. Positive correlation between MNN connectivity and subclinical autistic traits can be used in future studies to investigate MNN in a developing population with autism spectrum disorder.

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Favouritism in the motor system: social interaction modulates action simulation

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2010.0478 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. 758-761 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Dimitrios Kourtis ◽

Natalie Sebanz ◽

Günther Knoblich

Keyword(s):

Social Interaction ◽

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Action Execution ◽

Action Simulation ◽

Neuron System ◽

The Social ◽

Third Person ◽

Motor Areas

The ability to anticipate others' actions is crucial for social interaction. It has been shown that this ability relies on motor areas of the human brain that are not only active during action execution and action observation, but also during anticipation of another person's action. Recording electroencephalograms during a triadic social interaction, we assessed whether activation of motor areas pertaining to the human mirror-neuron system prior to action observation depends on the social relationship between the actor and the observer. Anticipatory motor activation was stronger when participants expected an interaction partner to perform a particular action than when they anticipated that the same action would be performed by a third person they did not interact with. These results demonstrate that social interaction modulates action simulation.

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Mu Suppression during Anticipation of Predictable Actions Performed by Other Agents

10.31234/osf.io/5jfgd ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Manon Krol ◽

Dennis Schutter ◽

Tjeerd Jellema

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Knowledge ◽

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Real Life ◽

Action Execution ◽

Mu Suppression ◽

Baseline Activity ◽

Real Life Setting ◽

Anticipatory Activity

The mirror neuron system (MNS) becomes active during action execution and action observation, which is presumably reflected by reductions in mu (8-13 Hz) activity in the electroencephalogram (EEG) over the sensorimotor cortex. Although the existence of this system is generally accepted, its function is still debated. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of the MNS in anticipating others’ actions by examining whether the MNS was activated – indexed by mu power suppression - prior to the onset of observed actions when the onset and type of action could be predicted on the basis of environmental cues. Healthy young adults performed and observed cued grasping and placing actions in a card game, while the predictability of the observed actions was manipulated using a fixed set of rules. All actions were performed in a real-life setting. Significant mu suppression, relative to within-trial baseline activity, was found during both action execution and observation. In addition, significant mu suppression was found prior to the onset of executed actions (preparatory motor activity), and, crucially, also prior to observed actions that were predictable. No anticipatory mu reductions were found prior to unpredictable observed actions. These results suggest top-down modulation of MNS activity by conceptual knowledge. This is the first study to demonstrate mu suppression prior to action onset – possibly reflecting MNS anticipatory activity - by explicitly manipulating predictability in a real-life setting.

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Mirror neurons precede non-mirror neurons during action execution

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00653.2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 122 (6) ◽

pp. 2630-2635

Author(s):

Kevin A. Mazurek ◽

Marc H. Schieber

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neurons ◽

Markov Models ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Leading Edge ◽

Population Level ◽

State Transitions ◽

Neuron Activity ◽

Action Execution ◽

Neuron Populations

Mirror neurons are thought to represent an individual’s ability to understand the actions of others by discharging as one individual performs or observes another individual performing an action. Studies typically have focused on mirror neuron activity during action observation, examining activity during action execution primarily to validate mirror neuron involvement in the motor act. As a result, little is known about the precise role of mirror neurons during action execution. In this study, during execution of reach-grasp-manipulate movements, we found activity of mirror neurons generally preceded that of non-mirror neurons. Not only did the onset of task-related modulation occur earlier in mirror neurons, but state transitions detected by hidden Markov models also occurred earlier in mirror neuron populations. Our findings suggest that mirror neurons may be at the forefront of action execution. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mirror neurons commonly are thought to provide a neural substrate for understanding the actions of others, but mirror neurons also are active during action execution, when additional, non-mirror neurons are active as well. Examining the timing of activity during execution of a naturalistic reach-grasp-manipulate task, we found that mirror neuron activity precedes that of non-mirror neurons at both the unit and the population level. Thus mirror neurons may be at the leading edge of action execution.

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