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

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.

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

NeuroImage ◽

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.10.019 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 87 ◽

pp. 127-137 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

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

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The interpretation of mu suppression as an index of mirror neuron activity: past, present and future

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.160662 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 160662 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Hannah M. Hobson ◽

Dorothy V. M. Bishop

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Social Processes ◽

Neuron Activity ◽

Neuron System ◽

Mu Suppression ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Robust Evidence

Mu suppression studies have been widely used to infer the activity of the human mirror neuron system (MNS) in a number of processes, ranging from action understanding, language, empathy and the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Although mu suppression is enjoying a resurgence of interest, it has a long history. This review aimed to revisit mu's past, and examine its recent use to investigate MNS involvement in language, social processes and ASDs. Mu suppression studies have largely failed to produce robust evidence for the role of the MNS in these domains. Several key potential shortcomings with the use and interpretation of mu suppression, documented in the older literature and highlighted by more recent reports, are explored here.

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The Activation of the Mirror Neuron System during Action Observation and Action Execution with Mirror Visual Feedback in Stroke: A Systematic Review

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2018/2321045 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Jack J. Q. Zhang ◽

Kenneth N. K. Fong ◽

Nandana Welage ◽

Karen P. Y. Liu

Keyword(s):

Motor Cortex ◽

Visual Feedback ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Action Execution ◽

Neuron System ◽

Mu Suppression ◽

Mirror Visual Feedback

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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Mirror Neuron System Activation in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy During Observation of Actions Performed by a Pathological Model

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair ◽

10.1177/1545968319847964 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 419-431 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Antonino Errante ◽

Giuseppe Di Cesare ◽

Chiara Pinardi ◽

Fabrizio Fasano ◽

Silvia Sghedoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Region Of Interest ◽

Typically Developing ◽

Neuron System ◽

Important Region ◽

Pathological Model ◽

Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Background. Recent evidence suggested that Action Observation Therapy (AOT), based on observation of actions followed by immediate reproduction, could be a useful rehabilitative strategy for promoting functional recovery of children affected by unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). AOT most likely exploits properties of the parieto-premotor mirror neuron system (MNS). This is more intensely activated when participants observe actions belonging to their own motor repertoire. Objective. The aim of the present study was to investigate the issue of whether MNS of UCP children is better activated by actions performed by a paretic hand rather than a healthy one. Methods. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we assessed brain activation in a homogeneous group of 10 right UCP children compared with that of 10 right-handed typically developing (TD) children, during observation of grasping actions performed by a healthy or a paretic hand. Results. The results revealed a significant activation within the MNS in both UCP and TD children, more lateralized to the left hemisphere in the TD group. Most important, region of interest (ROI) analysis on parietal and premotor regions showed that, in UCP, the MNS was more strongly activated by observation of actions performed by the paretic hand, a motor model more similar to the observer’s motor repertoire. Conclusions. This study shows that children affected by spastic UCP exhibit enhanced activation of the MNS during observation of goal-directed actions performed by a pathological model with respect to a healthy one.

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Differential mirror neuron system (MNS) activation during action observation with and without social-emotional components in autism: a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies

Molecular Autism ◽

10.1186/s13229-020-00374-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Melody M. Y. Chan ◽

Yvonne M. Y. Han

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Activation Patterns ◽

Neuron System ◽

The Right

Abstract Background Impaired imitation has been found to be an important factor contributing to social communication deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It has been hypothesized that the neural correlate of imitation, the mirror neuron system (MNS), is dysfunctional in ASD, resulting in imitation impairment as one of the key behavioral manifestations in ASD. Previous MNS studies produced inconsistent results, leaving the debate of whether “broken” mirror neurons in ASD are unresolved. Methods This meta-analysis aimed to explore the differences in MNS activation patterns between typically developing (TD) and ASD individuals when they observe biological motions with or without social-emotional components. Effect size signed differential mapping (ES-SDM) was adopted to synthesize the available fMRI data. Results ES-SDM analysis revealed hyperactivation in the right inferior frontal gyrus and left supplementary motor area in ASD during observation of biological motions. Subgroup analysis of experiments involving the observation of stimuli with or without emotional component revealed hyperactivation in the left inferior parietal lobule and left supplementary motor during action observation without emotional components, whereas hyperactivation of the right inferior frontal gyrus was found during action observation with emotional components in ASD. Subgroup analyses of age showed hyperactivation of the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus in ASD adolescents, while hyperactivation in the right inferior frontal gyrus was noted in ASD adults. Meta-regression within ASD individuals indicated that the right cerebellum crus I activation increased with age, while the left inferior temporal gyrus activation decreased with age. Limitations This meta-analysis is limited in its generalization of the findings to individuals with ASD by the restricted age range, heterogeneous study sample, and the large within-group variation in MNS activation patterns during object observation. Furthermore, we only included action observation studies which might limit the generalization of our results to the imitation deficits in ASD. In addition, the relatively small sample size for individual studies might also potentially overestimate the effect sizes. Conclusion The MNS is impaired in ASD. The abnormal activation patterns were found to be modulated by the nature of stimuli and age, which might explain the contradictory results from earlier studies on the “broken mirror neuron” debate.

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Relationship between Activity in Human Primary Motor Cortex during Action Observation and the Mirror Neuron System

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0004925 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. e4925 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

James M. Kilner ◽

Jennifer L. Marchant ◽

Chris D. Frith

Keyword(s):

Motor Cortex ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Neuron System

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Differential Mirror Neuron System (MNS) Activation During Action Observation with and without Social-Emotional Components in Autism: A Meta-Analysis of Neuroimaging Studies

10.21203/rs.2.23748/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Melody M.Y. Chan ◽

Yvonne M.Y. Han

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Activation Patterns ◽

Neuron System ◽

The Right

Abstract Background Impaired imitation has been found to be an important factor contributing to social communication deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It has been hypothesized that the neural correlate of imitation, the mirror neuron system (MNS), is dysfunctional in ASD, resulting in imitation impairment as one of the key behavioral manifestations in ASD. Previous MNS studies produced inconsistent results, leaving the debate of whether mirror neurons are “broken” in ASD unresolved. Methods This meta-analysis aimed to explore the differences in MNS activation patterns between typically developing (TD) and ASD individuals when they observe biological motions with or without social-emotional components. Effect-size signed differential mapping (ES-SDM) was adopted to synthesize the available fMRI data. Results ES-SDM analysis revealed hyperactivation in the right inferior frontal gyrus and left supplementary motor area in ASD during observation of biological motions. Subgroup analysis of experiments involving the observation of stimuli with or without emotional component revealed hyperactivation in the left inferior parietal lobule and left supplementary motor during action observation without emotional components, whereas hyperactivation of right inferior frontal gyrus was found during action observation with emotional components in ASD. Subgroup analyses of age showed hyperactivation of bilateral inferior frontal gyrus in ASD adolescents, while hyperactivation in the right inferior frontal gyrus was noted in ASD adults. Meta-regression within ASD individuals indicated that right cerebellum crus I activation increased with age, while left inferior temporal gyrus activation decreased with age. Limitations This meta-analysis is limited in its generalization of the findings to individuals with ASD by the restricted age range, heterogeneous study sample, and the large within-group variation in MNS activation patterns during object observation. Furthermore, we only included action observation studies which might limit the generalization of our results to the imitation deficits in ASD. In addition, the relatively small sample size for individual studies might also potentially overestimate the effect sizes. Conclusion The MNS is impaired in ASD. The abnormal activation patterns were found to be modulated by the nature of stimuli and age, which might explain the contradictory results from earlier studies on the “broken mirror neuron” debate.

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