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Zhang P, Feng S, Zhang Q, Chen Y, Liu Y, Liu T, Bai X, Yin J. Online chasing action recruits both mirror neuron and mentalizing systems: A pilot fNIRS study. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 248:104363. [PMID: 38905953 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Engaging in chasing, where an actor actively pursues a target, is considered a crucial activity for the development of social skills. Previous studies have focused predominantly on understanding the neural correlates of chasing from an observer's perspective, but the neural mechanisms underlying the real-time implementation of chasing action remain poorly understood. To gain deeper insights into this phenomenon, the current study employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) techniques and a novel interactive game. In this interactive game, participants (N = 29) were tasked to engage in chasing behavior by controlling an on-screen character using a gamepad, with the goal of catching a virtual partner. To specifically examine the brain activations associated with the interactive nature of chasing, we included two additional interactive actions: following action of following the path of a virtual partner and free action of moving without a specific pursuit goal. The results revealed that chasing and following actions elicited activation in a broad and overlapping network of brain regions, including the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), premotor cortex (PMC), primary somatosensory cortex (SI), and primary motor cortex (M1). Crucially, these regions were found to be modulated by the type of interaction, with greater activation and functional connectivity during the chasing interaction than during the following and free interactions. These findings suggested that both the MNS, encompassing regions such as the PMC, M1 and SI, and the mentalizing system (MS), involving the TPJ and mPFC, contribute to the execution of online chasing actions. Thus, the present study represents an initial step toward future investigations into the roles of MNS and MS in real-time chasing interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuyuan Feng
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qihan Zhang
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yixin Chen
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Liu
- School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuejun Bai
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Jun Yin
- Department of Psychology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
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2
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Guézouli L, Roy V, Bodoux C, Baumard J. A fist bump in a political meeting? The influence of social context on affordance selection. Brain Cogn 2023; 173:106100. [PMID: 37988859 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2023.106100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Historically, understanding human cognition such as action processing has been a challenging issue in cognitive neuropsychology and the more we know about cognition, the more we shape it as a complex, multi-determined phenomenon that is embedded in a social context. The present study aimed at understanding how the social context could influence affordance selection. We hypothesized that affordance selection would be modulated by social context and that a given hand configuration would be considered appropriate or not, as a function of the presence or absence of social context. Twenty-six healthy participants were asked to judge the appropriateness of three variants of 10 hand-object interactions based on photographs presented with or without a visual, social context. In our results, hand configurations were intrinsically acceptable or not, but this effect was modulated by the social context. A three-step model of the influence of social context on affordance selection was proposed, according to which selection depends on social norms, in the form of social knowledge and social context analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léna Guézouli
- Univ Rouen Normandie, CRFDP UR 7475, F-76000 Rouen, France.
| | - Vincent Roy
- Univ Rouen Normandie, CRFDP UR 7475, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Camille Bodoux
- Univ Rouen Normandie, CRFDP UR 7475, F-76000 Rouen, France
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3
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Lu H, Wang X, Zhang Y, Huang P, Xing C, Zhang M, Zhu X. Increased interbrain synchronization and neural efficiency of the frontal cortex to enhance human coordinative behavior: A combined hyper-tES and fNIRS study. Neuroimage 2023; 282:120385. [PMID: 37832708 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordination is crucial for individuals to achieve common goals; however, the causal relationship between coordination behavior and neural activity has not yet been explored. Interbrain synchronization (IBS) and neural efficiency in cortical areas associated with the mirror neuron system (MNS) are considered two potential brain mechanisms. In the present study, we attempted to clarify how the two mechanisms facilitate coordination using hypertranscranial electrical stimulation (hyper-tES). A total of 124 healthy young adults were randomly divided into three groups (the hyper-tACS, hyper-tDCS and sham groups) and underwent modulation of the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) during functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Increased IBS of the PFC or neural efficiency of the right IFG (related to the MNS) was accompanied by greater coordination behavior; IBS had longer-lasting effects on behavior. Our findings highlight the importance of IBS and neural efficiency of the frontal cortex for coordination and suggest potential interventions to improve coordination in different temporal windows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Lu
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi 'an 710032, China
| | - Xinlu Wang
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi 'an 710032, China
| | - Yajuan Zhang
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi 'an 710032, China
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi 'an 710032, China
| | - Chen Xing
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi 'an 710032, China.
| | - Mingming Zhang
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200233, China.
| | - Xia Zhu
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi 'an 710032, China.
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Jayashankar A, Bynum B, Butera C, Kilroy E, Harrison L, Aziz-Zadeh L. Connectivity differences between inferior frontal gyrus and mentalizing network in autism as compared to developmental coordination disorder and non-autistic youth. Cortex 2023; 167:115-131. [PMID: 37549452 PMCID: PMC10543516 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies have compared neural connectivity during mentalizing tasks in autism (ASD) to non-autistic individuals and found reduced connectivity between the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and mentalizing regions. However, given that the IFG is involved in motor processing, and about 80% of autistic individuals have motor-related difficulties, it is necessary to explore if these differences are specific to ASD or instead similar across other developmental motor disorders, such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Participants (29 ASD, 20 DCD, 31 typically developing [TD]; ages 8-17) completed a mentalizing task in the fMRI scanner, where they were asked to think about why someone was performing an action. Results indicated that the ASD group, as compared to both TD and DCD groups, showed significant functional connectivity differences when mentalizing about other's actions. The left IFG seed revealed ASD connectivity differences with the: bilateral temporoparietal junction (TPJ), left insular cortex, and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Connectivity differences using the right IFG seed revealed ASD differences in the: left insula, and right DLPFC. These results indicate that connectivity differences between the IFG, mentalizing regions, emotion and motor processing regions are specific to ASD and not a result of potentially co-occurring motor differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Jayashankar
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brittany Bynum
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christiana Butera
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Kilroy
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laura Harrison
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Smith E, Xiao Y, Xie H, Manwaring SS, Farmer C, Thompson L, D'Souza P, Thurm A, Redcay E. Posterior superior temporal cortex connectivity is related to social communication in toddlers. Infant Behav Dev 2023; 71:101831. [PMID: 37012188 PMCID: PMC10330088 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2023.101831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
The second year of life is a time when social communication skills typically develop, but this growth may be slower in toddlers with language delay. In the current study, we examined how brain functional connectivity is related to social communication abilities in a sample of 12-24 month-old toddlers including those with typical development (TD) and those with language delays (LD). We used an a-priori, seed-based approach to identify regions forming a functional network with the left posterior superior temporal cortex (LpSTC), a region associated with language and social communication in older children and adults. Social communication and language abilities were assessed using the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS) and Mullen Scales of Early Learning. We found a significant association between concurrent CSBS scores and functional connectivity between the LpSTC and the right posterior superior temporal cortex (RpSTC), with greater connectivity between these regions associated with better social communication abilities. However, functional connectivity was not related to rate of change or language outcomes at 36 months of age. These data suggest an early marker of low communication abilities may be decreased connectivity between the left and right pSTC. Future longitudinal studies should test whether this neurobiological feature is predictive of later social or communication impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Smith
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA
| | - Yaqiong Xiao
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China; Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, USA
| | - Hua Xie
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, USA
| | - Stacy S Manwaring
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Utah, USA
| | - Cristan Farmer
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, USA
| | - Lauren Thompson
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Washington State University, USA
| | - Precilla D'Souza
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, USA
| | - Audrey Thurm
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, USA
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6
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Kleineberg NN, Schmidt CC, Richter MK, Bolte K, Schloss N, Fink GR, Weiss PH. Gesture meaning modulates the neural correlates of effector-specific imitation deficits in left hemisphere stroke. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103331. [PMID: 36716655 PMCID: PMC9900453 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies on left hemisphere (LH) stroke patients reported effector-specific (hand, fingers, bucco-facial) differences in imitation performance. Furthermore, imitation performance differed between meaningless (ML) and meaningful (MF) gestures. Recent work suggests that a gesture's meaning impacts the body-part specificity of gesture imitation. METHODS We tested the hypothesis that the gesture's meaning (ML vs MF) affects the lesion correlates of effector-specific imitation deficits (here: bucco-facial vs arm/hand gestures) using behavioural data and support vector regression-based lesion-symptom mapping (SVR-LSM) in a large sample of 194 sub-acute LH stroke patients. RESULTS Behavioural data revealed a significant interaction between the effector used for imitation and the meaning of the imitated gesture. SVR-LSM analyses revealed shared lesion correlates for impaired imitation independent of effector or gesture meaning in the left supramarginal (SMG) and superior temporal gyri (STG). Besides, within the territory of the left middle cerebral artery, impaired imitation of bucco-facial gestures was associated with more anterior lesions, while arm/hand imitation deficits were associated with more posterior lesions. MF gestures were specifically associated with lesions in the left inferior frontal gyrus and the left insular region. Notably, an interaction of effector-specificity and gesture meaning was also present at the lesion level: A more pronounced difference in imitation performance between the effectors for ML (versus MF) gestures was associated with left-hemispheric lesions in the STG, SMG, putamen, precentral gyrus and white matter tracts. CONCLUSION The current behavioural data show that ML gestures are particularly sensitive in assessing effector-specific imitation deficits in LH stroke patients. Moreover, a gesture's meaning modulated the effector-specific lesion correlates of bucco-facial and arm/hand gesture imitation. Hence, it is crucial to consider gesture meaning in apraxia assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina N Kleineberg
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
| | - Claudia C Schmidt
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Monika K Richter
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Katharina Bolte
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Natalie Schloss
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Gereon R Fink
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter H Weiss
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
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7
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Thompson EL, Bird G, Catmur C. Mirror neuron brain regions contribute to identifying actions, but not intentions. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:4901-4913. [PMID: 35906896 PMCID: PMC9582378 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have struggled to determine the relationship between mirror neuron brain regions and two distinct “action understanding” processes: identifying actions and identifying the intentions underlying those actions. This may be because the identification of intentions from others' actions requires an initial action identification process. Disruptive transcranial magnetic stimulation was administered to left inferior frontal gyrus (lIFG) during a novel cognitive task to determine which of these “action understanding” processes is subserved by mirror neuron brain regions. Participants identified either the actions performed by observed hand actions or the intentions underlying those actions. The extent to which intention identification was disrupted by lIFG (vs. control site) stimulation was dependent on the level of disruption to action identification. We subsequently performed functional magnetic resonance imaging during the same task. During action identification, responses were widespread within mirror neuron areas including lIFG and inferior parietal lobule. However, no independent responses were found in mirror neuron brain regions during intention identification. Instead, responses occurred in brain regions associated with two distinct mentalizing localizer tasks. This supports an account in which mirror neuron brain regions are involved in an initial action identification process, but the subsequent identification of intentions requires additional processing in mentalizing brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Thompson
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Geoffrey Bird
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Caroline Catmur
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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8
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Lu H, Zhang Y, Huang P, Zhang Y, Cheng S, Zhu X. Transcranial Electrical Stimulation Offers the Possibility of Improving Teamwork Among Military Pilots: A Review. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:931265. [PMID: 35911997 PMCID: PMC9327643 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.931265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective teamwork among military pilots is key to successful mission completion. The underlying neural mechanism of teamwork is thought to be inter-brain synchronization (IBS). IBS could also be explained as an incidental phenomenon of cooperative behavior, but the causality between IBS and cooperative behavior could be clarified by directly producing IBS through extra external stimuli applied to functional brain regions. As a non-invasive technology for altering brain function, transcranial electrical stimulation might have the potential to explore whether top-down enhancement of the synchronization of multiple brains can change cooperative behavioral performance among members of a team. This review focuses on the characteristic features of teamwork among military pilots and variations in neuroimaging obtained by hyper-scanning. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility that transcranial electrical stimulation could be used to improve teamwork among military pilots, try to provide a feasible design for doing so, and emphasize crucial aspects to be addressed by future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xia Zhu
- Faculty of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
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9
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Saporta N, Peled-Avron L, Scheele D, Lieberz J, Hurlemann R, Shamay-Tsoory SG. Touched by loneliness-how loneliness impacts the response to observed human touch: a tDCS study. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2022; 17:142-150. [PMID: 34907421 PMCID: PMC8824677 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsab122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lonely people often crave connectedness. However, they may also experience their environment as threatening, entering a self-preserving state that perpetuates loneliness. Research shows conflicting evidence about their response to positive social cues, and little is known about their experience of observed human touch. The right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) is part of an observation-execution network implicated in observed touch perception. Correlative studies also point to rIFG's involvement in loneliness. We examined the causal effect of rIFG anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on high- and low-loneliness individuals observing human touch. In a cross-over design study, 40 participants watched pictures of humans or objects touching or not touching during anodal and sham stimulations. Participants indicated whether pictures contained humans or objects, and their reaction time was measured. Results show that the reaction time of low-loneliness individuals to observed human touch was significantly slower during anodal stimulation compared to high-loneliness individuals, possibly due to them being more emotionally distracted by it. Lonely individuals also reported less liking of touch. Our findings support the notion that lonely individuals are not drawn to positive social cues. This may help explain the perpetuation of loneliness, despite social opportunities that could be available to lonely people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nira Saporta
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Leehe Peled-Avron
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Dirk Scheele
- Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn 53105, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Jana Lieberz
- Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn 53105, Germany
| | - René Hurlemann
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
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10
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Balconi M, Fronda G. Autonomic system tuning during gesture observation and reproduction. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2022; 222:103477. [PMID: 34971949 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestural communication allows providing information about thoughts and feelings, characterizing face-to-face interactions, also during non-verbal exchanges. In the present study, the autonomic responses and peripheral synchronization mechanisms of two individuals (encoder and decoder) were recorded simultaneously, through the use of biofeedback in hyperscanning, during two different experimental phases consisting in the observation (watching videos of gestures) and reproduction of positive and negative different types of gestures (affective, social and informative) supported by linguistic contexts. Therefore, the main aim of this study was focused on the analysis of simultaneous individuals' peripheral mechanisms during the performing of complex joint action, consisting of the observation (watching videos) and the reproduction of positive and negative social, affective, and informative gestures each supported by a linguistic script. Single-subject and inter-subject correlation analyses were conducted to observe individuals' autonomic responses and physiological synchronization. Single-subject results revealed an increase in emotional arousal, indicated by an increase in electrodermal activity (skin conductance level - SCL and response - SCR), during both the observation (watching videos) and reproduction of negative social and affective gestures contextualized by a linguistic context. Moreover, an increase of emotional engagement, expressed by an increase in heart rate (HR) activity, emerged in the encoder compare to the decoder during gestures reproduction (simulation of gestures). Inter-subject correlation results showed the presence of mirroring mechanisms, indicated by an increase in SCL, SCR, and HR synchronization, during the linguistic contexts and gesture observation (watching videos). Furthermore, an increase in SCL and SCR synchronization emerged during the observation (watching videos) and reproduction of negative social and affective gestures. Therefore, the present study allowed to obtain information on the mirroring mechanisms and physiological synchronization underlying the linguistic and gesture system during non-verbal interaction.
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Abstract
Ten years ago, Perspectives in Psychological Science published the Mirror Neuron Forum, in which authors debated the role of mirror neurons in action understanding, speech, imitation, and autism and asked whether mirror neurons are acquired through visual-motor learning. Subsequent research on these themes has made significant advances, which should encourage further, more systematic research. For action understanding, multivoxel pattern analysis, patient studies, and brain stimulation suggest that mirror-neuron brain areas contribute to low-level processing of observed actions (e.g., distinguishing types of grip) but not to high-level action interpretation (e.g., inferring actors' intentions). In the area of speech perception, although it remains unclear whether mirror neurons play a specific, causal role in speech perception, there is compelling evidence for the involvement of the motor system in the discrimination of speech in perceptually noisy conditions. For imitation, there is strong evidence from patient, brain-stimulation, and brain-imaging studies that mirror-neuron brain areas play a causal role in copying of body movement topography. In the area of autism, studies using behavioral and neurological measures have tried and failed to find evidence supporting the "broken-mirror theory" of autism. Furthermore, research on the origin of mirror neurons has confirmed the importance of domain-general visual-motor associative learning rather than canalized visual-motor learning, or motor learning alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Heyes
- All Souls College, University of Oxford
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford
| | - Caroline Catmur
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London
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12
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Li G, Chen Y, Le TM, Zhornitsky S, Wang W, Dhingra I, Zhang S, Tang X, Li CSR. Perceived friendship and binge drinking in young adults: A study of the Human Connectome Project data. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 224:108731. [PMID: 33915512 PMCID: PMC8641247 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peer influences figure prominently in young adult binge drinking. Women have trended to show a level of alcohol use on par with men during the last decades. It would be of interest to investigate the neural processes of social cognition that may underlie binge drinking and the potential sex differences. METHODS Here, we examined the data of the Human Connectome Project where we identified a total of 175 binge drinkers (125 men) and 285 non-binge drinkers (97 men) performing a social cognition task during brain imaging. We analyzed the imaging data with published routines and evaluated the results at a corrected threshold. RESULTS Both male and female binge relative to non-binge drinkers showed higher perceived friendship. Binge relative to non-binge drinkers demonstrated diminished activations in the anterior medial orbitofrontal cortex (amOFC) during perception of social vs. random interaction, with a more prominent effect size in women. Further, whole-brain regression identified activity of the right posterior insula (rPI) in negative correlation with perceived friendship score in non-binge drinking women. Post-hoc analyses showed significant correlation of rPI activity with perceived friendship, amOFC activity, and a summary measure of alcohol use severity identified by principal component analysis, across all subjects. Mediation and path analysis demonstrated a significant model: amOFC activity → rPI activity → perceived friendship → severity of alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS These findings support peer influences on binge drinking and suggest neural correlates that may relate altered social cognitive processing to alcohol misuse in young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangfei Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Thang M Le
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Wuyi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Isha Dhingra
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Xiaoying Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.
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13
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The Effectiveness of Mirroring- and Rhythm-Based Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-021-00236-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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14
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Kelsen BA, Sumich A, Kasabov N, Liang SHY, Wang GY. What has social neuroscience learned from hyperscanning studies of spoken communication? A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 132:1249-1262. [PMID: 33022298 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of literature examining the neurocognitive processes of interpersonal linguistic interaction indicates the emergence of neural alignment as participants engage in oral communication. However, questions have arisen whether the study results can be interpreted beyond observations of cortical functionality and extended to the mutual understanding between communicators. This review presents evidence from electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning studies of interbrain synchrony (IBS) in which participants communicated via spoken language. The studies are classified into: knowledge sharing; turn-taking speech co-ordination; cooperation, problem-solving and creativity; and naturalistic discussion paradigms according to the type of interaction specified in each study. Alignment predominantly occurred in the frontal and temporo-parietal areas, which may reflect activation of the mirror and mentalizing systems. We argue that the literature presents a significant contribution to advancing our understanding of IBS and mutual understanding between communicators. We end with suggestions for future research, including analytical approaches and experimental conditions and hypothesize that brain-inspired neural networks are promising techniques for better understanding of IBS through hyperscanning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent A Kelsen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand; Language Center, National Taipei University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Alexander Sumich
- Division of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nikola Kasabov
- Knowledge Engineering and Discovery Research Institute (KEDRI), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sophie H Y Liang
- Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Grace Y Wang
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
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15
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Shamay-Tsoory SG, Saporta N, Marton-Alper IZ, Gvirts HZ. Herding Brains: A Core Neural Mechanism for Social Alignment. Trends Cogn Sci 2019; 23:174-186. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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16
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Reduced connectivity between mentalizing and mirror systems in autism spectrum condition. Neuropsychologia 2019; 122:88-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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17
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Cerebral correlates of imitation of intransitive gestures: An integrative review of neuroimaging data and brain lesion studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 95:44-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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18
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Thye MD, Murdaugh DL, Kana RK. Brain Mechanisms Underlying Reading the Mind from Eyes, Voice, and Actions. Neuroscience 2018; 374:172-186. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.01.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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19
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Andric M, Goldin-Meadow S, Small SL, Hasson U. Repeated movie viewings produce similar local activity patterns but different network configurations. Neuroimage 2016; 142:613-627. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.07.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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20
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Kirkovski M, Enticott PG, Hughes ME, Rossell SL, Fitzgerald PB. Atypical Neural Activity in Males But Not Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 46:954-63. [PMID: 26520145 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2639-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPj) are highly involved in social understanding, a core area of impairment in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We used fMRI to investigate sex differences in the neural correlates of social understanding in 27 high-functioning adults with ASD and 23 matched controls. There were no differences in neural activity in the mPFC or rTPj between groups during social processing. Whole brain analysis revealed decreased activity in the posterior superior temporal sulcus in males with ASD compared to control males while processing social information. This pattern was not observed in the female sub-sample. The current study indicates that sex mediates the neurobiology of ASD, particularly with respect to processing social information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Kirkovski
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, Building BC, Level 5, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
| | - Peter G Enticott
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, Building BC, Level 5, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Matthew E Hughes
- Brain and Psychological Science Research Centre, Faculty Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Susan L Rossell
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Brain and Psychological Science Research Centre, Faculty Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul B Fitzgerald
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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21
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Kuang S. Toward a Unified Social Motor Cognition Theory of Understanding Mirror-Touch Synaesthesia. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:246. [PMID: 27303282 PMCID: PMC4885875 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shenbing Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China
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22
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Simpson EA, Miller GM, Ferrari PF, Suomi SJ, Paukner A. Neonatal imitation and early social experience predict gaze following abilities in infant monkeys. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20233. [PMID: 26831763 PMCID: PMC4735292 DOI: 10.1038/srep20233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals vary in their social skills and motivation, the causes of which remain largely unknown. Here we investigated whether an individual’s propensity to interact with others measured within days after birth, and differences in infants’ early social environment, may predict a later social skill. Specifically, we tested whether neonatal imitation—newborns’ capacity to match modelled actions—and social experience in the first months of life predict gaze following (directing attention to locations where others look), in infant macaques (Macaca mulatta; n = 119). Facial gesture imitation in the first week of life predicted gaze following at 7 months of age. Imitators were better at gaze following than non-imitators, suggesting neonatal imitation may be an early marker predicting socio-cognitive functioning. In addition, infants with rich social environments outperformed infants with less socialization, suggesting early social experiences also support the development of infants’ gaze following competence. The present study offers compelling evidence that an individual difference present from birth predicts a functional social cognitive skill in later infancy. In addition, this foundational skill—gaze following—is plastic, and can be improved through social interactions, providing infants with a strong foundation for later social interaction and learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Simpson
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.,Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy.,Laboratory of Comparative Ethology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Poolesville, Maryland, USA
| | - Grace M Miller
- Laboratory of Comparative Ethology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Poolesville, Maryland, USA.,Clinical and School Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Pier F Ferrari
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stephen J Suomi
- Laboratory of Comparative Ethology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Poolesville, Maryland, USA
| | - Annika Paukner
- Laboratory of Comparative Ethology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Poolesville, Maryland, USA
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23
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Raparia E, Coplan JD, Abdallah CG, Hof PR, Mao X, Mathew SJ, Shungu DC. Impact of childhood emotional abuse on neocortical neurometabolites and complex emotional processing in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. J Affect Disord 2016; 190:414-423. [PMID: 26551399 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rostral prefrontal cortex (RPFC) is involved in reflective thought processes such as self-knowledge and person perception. We hypothesized that childhood emotional abuse, which is disruptive of emotional regulation, would differentially impact neurometabolite concentrations of the RPFC, and related neocortical areas, in adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) versus healthy controls. METHODS GAD patients (n=16; females=11) and medically healthy volunteers (n=16; F=10) were assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), specifically the emotional abuse category. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging examined 3 regions of interest (ROI) from the most rostral slice from the Duyn et al. (1993) multivoxel imaging modality: rostral prefrontal cortex (BA 10,9), premotor cortex (BA 6,8) and secondary somatosensory and associated parietal cortex (BA 5,7). Metabolites included N-acetyl-aspartate, creatine, and choline. RESULTS GAD patients reported higher emotional abuse scores versus controls. An omnibus general linear model including 3 ROI, 3 metabolites, and laterality as dependent variables revealed a significant diagnosis by CTQ emotional abuse score interactive effect. In controls, all 3 ROI for all 3 metabolites on both sides demonstrated a significant inverse relationship with emotional abuse scores; none were significant in GAD patients. LIMITATIONS A major limitation is the uneven distribution of emotional abuse scores between the controls and GAD patients, with GAD patients reporting higher scores. CONCLUSION Unlike controls, GAD patients appear compromised in forming a molecular representation reflective of magnitude of childhood emotional abuse. The neurometabolites in GAD patients appear non-aligned to childhood emotional abuse, suggesting potential consequences for normative "theory of mind" processes and emotional function in certain anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Raparia
- College of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
| | - Jeremy D Coplan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Chadi G Abdallah
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiangling Mao
- Departments of Radiology, Psychiatry and Biophysics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sanjay J Mathew
- Mental Health Care Line, Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; Menninger Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dikoma C Shungu
- Departments of Radiology, Psychiatry and Biophysics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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24
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The motor way: Clinical implications of understanding and shaping actions with the motor system in autism and drug addiction. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2015; 16:191-206. [DOI: 10.3758/s13415-015-0399-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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25
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The neural basis of hand gesture comprehension: A meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 57:88-104. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Revised: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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26
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Redcay E, Ludlum RS, Velnoskey KR, Kanwal S. Communicative Signals Promote Object Recognition Memory and Modulate the Right Posterior STS. J Cogn Neurosci 2015; 28:8-19. [PMID: 26351992 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_00875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Detection of communicative signals is thought to facilitate knowledge acquisition early in life, but less is known about the role these signals play in adult learning or about the brain systems supporting sensitivity to communicative intent. The current study examined how ostensive gaze cues and communicative actions affect adult recognition memory and modulate neural activity as measured by fMRI. For both the behavioral and fMRI experiments, participants viewed a series of videos of an actress acting on one of two objects in front of her. Communicative context in the videos was manipulated in a 2 × 2 design in which the actress either had direct gaze (Gaze) or wore a visor (NoGaze) and either pointed at (Point) or reached for (Reach) one of the objects (target) in front of her. Participants then completed a recognition memory task with old (target and nontarget) objects and novel objects. Recognition memory for target objects in the Gaze conditions was greater than NoGaze, but no effects of gesture type were seen. Similarly, the fMRI video-viewing task revealed a significant effect of Gaze within right posterior STS (pSTS), but no significant effects of Gesture. Furthermore, pSTS sensitivity to Gaze conditions was related to greater memory for objects viewed in Gaze, as compared with NoGaze, conditions. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the ostensive, communicative signal of direct gaze preceding an object-directed action enhances recognition memory for attended items and modulates the pSTS response to object-directed actions. Thus, establishment of a communicative context through ostensive signals remains an important component of learning and memory into adulthood, and the pSTS may play a role in facilitating this type of social learning.
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Johnen A, Tokaj A, Kirschner A, Wiendl H, Lueg G, Duning T, Lohmann H. Apraxia profile differentiates behavioural variant frontotemporal from Alzheimer's dementia in mild disease stages. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2015; 86:809-15. [PMID: 25248366 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-308773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite refined criteria for behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), its differentiation from Alzheimer's dementia (AD) remains difficult at early clinical presentation. Apraxia is not considered as a supportive feature for the diagnosis of bvFTD, but for AD. However, only few studies have quantified praxis disturbances in mild disease stages and their specificity for AD compared with bvFTD remains indistinct. We explore apraxia in bvFTD and investigate the differential validity of apraxia screening tests to distinguish between AD, bvFTD and healthy controls (HC). METHODS We compared composite apraxia scores assessed with standardised neuropsychological screening tests as well as performance in praxis subdomains in patients who fulfil current clinical criteria for AD (N=20), bvFTD (N=20), and in HC (N=20). RESULTS Composite scores of apraxia screening tests provided high diagnostic accuracy for detecting mild stages of both neurodegenerative disorders compared with HC (sensitivity: 75-95%; specificity: 70-90%). Both patient groups showed pronounced impairments in limb praxis, especially in imitation of hand and finger postures (bvFTD: 71.7%; AD: 55.5%; HC: 86.7%) and pantomime of object use (bvFTD: 88.6%; AD: 81.4%; HC: 97.5%). Beyond that, patients with bvFTD displayed a unique profile of deficits for imitating face postures (bvFTD: 69%; AD: 88%; HC: 95.5%). CONCLUSIONS Praxis disturbances are important but under-represented diagnostic features in mild stages of AD and bvFTD. Apraxia screening tests are easily applicable diagnostic tools, which may support clinical diagnoses of both neurodegenerative diseases. The analysis of individual apraxia profiles can effectively facilitate differential diagnosis of AD and bvFTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Johnen
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Amelie Tokaj
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Anne Kirschner
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Heinz Wiendl
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Gero Lueg
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Duning
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hubertus Lohmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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Nagels A, Kircher T, Steines M, Straube B. Feeling addressed! The role of body orientation and co-speech gesture in social communication. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 36:1925-36. [PMID: 25640962 PMCID: PMC6869376 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
During face-to-face communication, body orientation and coverbal gestures influence how information is conveyed. The neural pathways underpinning the comprehension of such nonverbal social cues in everyday interaction are to some part still unknown. During fMRI data acquisition, 37 participants were presented with video clips showing an actor speaking short sentences. The actor produced speech-associated iconic gestures (IC) or no gestures (NG) while he was visible either from an egocentric (ego) or from an allocentric (allo) position. Participants were asked to indicate via button press whether they felt addressed or not. We found a significant interaction of body orientation and gesture in addressment evaluations, indicating that participants evaluated IC-ego conditions as most addressing. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left fusiform gyrus were stronger activated for egocentric versus allocentric actor position in gesture context. Activation increase in the ACC for IC-ego>IC-allo further correlated positively with increased addressment ratings in the egocentric gesture condition. Gesture-related activation increase in the supplementary motor area, left inferior frontal gyrus and right insula correlated positively with gesture-related increase of addressment evaluations in the egocentric context. Results indicate that gesture use and body-orientation contribute to the feeling of being addressed and together influence neural processing in brain regions involved in motor simulation, empathy and mentalizing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Nagels
- Department of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyPhilipps‐University MarburgRudolf‐Bultmann‐Str. 835039MarburgGermany
| | - Tilo Kircher
- Department of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyPhilipps‐University MarburgRudolf‐Bultmann‐Str. 835039MarburgGermany
| | - Miriam Steines
- Department of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyPhilipps‐University MarburgRudolf‐Bultmann‐Str. 835039MarburgGermany
| | - Benjamin Straube
- Department of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyPhilipps‐University MarburgRudolf‐Bultmann‐Str. 835039MarburgGermany
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30
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Nagels A, Kircher T, Steines M, Grosvald M, Straube B. A brief self-rating scale for the assessment of individual differences in gesture perception and production. LEARNING AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lindif.2015.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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31
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Walther S, Stegmayer K, Sulzbacher J, Vanbellingen T, Müri R, Strik W, Bohlhalter S. Nonverbal social communication and gesture control in schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2015; 41:338-45. [PMID: 25646526 PMCID: PMC4332963 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbu222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia patients are severely impaired in nonverbal communication, including social perception and gesture production. However, the impact of nonverbal social perception on gestural behavior remains unknown, as is the contribution of negative symptoms, working memory, and abnormal motor behavior. Thus, the study tested whether poor nonverbal social perception was related to impaired gesture performance, gestural knowledge, or motor abnormalities. Forty-six patients with schizophrenia (80%), schizophreniform (15%), or schizoaffective disorder (5%) and 44 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and education were included. Participants completed 4 tasks on nonverbal communication including nonverbal social perception, gesture performance, gesture recognition, and tool use. In addition, they underwent comprehensive clinical and motor assessments. Patients presented impaired nonverbal communication in all tasks compared with controls. Furthermore, in contrast to controls, performance in patients was highly correlated between tasks, not explained by supramodal cognitive deficits such as working memory. Schizophrenia patients with impaired gesture performance also demonstrated poor nonverbal social perception, gestural knowledge, and tool use. Importantly, motor/frontal abnormalities negatively mediated the strong association between nonverbal social perception and gesture performance. The factors negative symptoms and antipsychotic dosage were unrelated to the nonverbal tasks. The study confirmed a generalized nonverbal communication deficit in schizophrenia. Specifically, the findings suggested that nonverbal social perception in schizophrenia has a relevant impact on gestural impairment beyond the negative influence of motor/frontal abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tim Vanbellingen
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Center, Kantonsspital Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland
| | - René Müri
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Werner Strik
- University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Bohlhalter
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland; Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Center, Kantonsspital Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland
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Parameshwaran R. Theory and practice of chaplain's spiritual care process: A psychiatrist's experiences of chaplaincy and conceptualizing trans-personal model of mindfulness. Indian J Psychiatry 2015; 57:21-9. [PMID: 25657453 PMCID: PMC4314912 DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.148511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Of various spiritual care methods, mindfulness meditation has found consistent application in clinical intervention and research. "Listening presence," a chaplain's model of mindfulness and its trans-personal application in spiritual care is least understood and studied. AIM The aim was to develop a conceptualized understanding of chaplain's spiritual care process based on neuro-physiological principles of mindfulness and interpersonal empathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Current understandings on neuro-physiological mechanisms of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) and interpersonal empathy such as theory of mind and mirror neuron system are used to build a theoretical framework for chaplain's spiritual care process. Practical application of this theoretical model is illustrated using a carefully recorded clinical interaction, in verbatim, between chaplain and his patient. Qualitative findings from this verbatim are systematically analyzed using neuro-physiological principles. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Chaplain's deep listening skills to experience patient's pain and suffering, awareness of his emotions/memories triggered by patient's story and ability to set aside personal emotions, and judgmental thoughts formed intra-personal mindfulness. Chaplain's insights on and ability to remain mindfully aware of possible emotions/thoughts in the patient, and facilitating patient to return and re-return to become aware of internal emotions/thoughts helps the patient develop own intra-personal mindfulness leading to self-healing. This form of care involving chaplain's mindfulness of emotions/thoughts of another individual, that is, patient, may be conceptualized as trans-personal model of MBI. CONCLUSION Chaplain's approach may be a legitimate form of psychological therapy that includes inter and intra-personal mindfulness. Neuro-physiological mechanisms of empathy that underlie Chaplain's spiritual care process may establish it as an evidence-based clinical method of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramakrishnan Parameshwaran
- Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA, Adibhat Foundation for Integrating Medicine and Spirituality, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi, India
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Kuhlen AK, Bogler C, Swerts M, Haynes JD. Neural coding of assessing another person's knowledge based on nonverbal cues. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2014; 10:729-34. [PMID: 25140046 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsu111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For successful communication, conversational partners need to estimate each other's current knowledge state. Nonverbal facial and bodily cues can reveal relevant information about how confident a speaker is about what they are saying. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we aimed to identify brain regions that encode how confident a speaker is perceived to be. Participants viewed videos of people answering general knowledge questions and judged each respondent's confidence in their answer. Our results suggest a distinct role of two neural networks known to support social inferences, the so-called mentalizing and the mirroring network. While activation in both networks underlies the processing of nonverbal cues, only activity in the mentalizing network, most notably the medial prefrontal cortex and the bilateral temporoparietal junction, is modulated by how confident the respondent is judged to be. Our results support an integrative account of the mirroring and mentalizing network, in which the two systems support each other in aiding pragmatic processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Kuhlen
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Carsten Bogler
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Marc Swerts
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - John-Dylan Haynes
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10119 Berlin, Germany, and School of Humanities, TiCC Research Center, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands
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Where there is a goal, there is a way: what, why and how the parieto-frontal mirror network can mediate imitative behaviours. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 47:177-93. [PMID: 25149267 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The relationships between mirror neurons (MNs) and motor imitation, and its clinical implications in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been widely investigated; however, the literature remains—at least partially—controversial. In this review we support a multi-level action understanding model focusing on the mirror-based understanding. We review the functional role of the parieto-frontal MNs (PFMN) network claiming that PFMNs function cannot be limited to imitation nor can imitation be explained solely by the activity of PFMNs. The distinction between movement, motor act and motor action is useful to characterize deeply both act(ion) understanding and imitation of act(ion). A more abstract representation of act(ion) may be crucial for clarifying what, why and how an imitator is imitating. What counts in social interactions is achieving goals: it does not matter which effector or string of motor acts you eventually use for achieving (proximal and distal) goals. Similarly, what counts is the ability to recognize/imitate the style of act(ion) regardless of the way in which it is expressed. We address this crucial point referring to its potential implications in ASD.
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Saggar M, Shelly EW, Lepage JF, Hoeft F, Reiss AL. Revealing the neural networks associated with processing of natural social interaction and the related effects of actor-orientation and face-visibility. Neuroimage 2013; 84:648-56. [PMID: 24084068 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.09.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2013] [Revised: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the intentions and desires of those around us is vital for adapting to a dynamic social environment. In this paper, a novel event-related functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) paradigm with dynamic and natural stimuli (2s video clips) was developed to directly examine the neural networks associated with processing of gestures with social intent as compared to nonsocial intent. When comparing social to nonsocial gestures, increased activation in both the mentalizing (or theory of mind) and amygdala networks was found. As a secondary aim, a factor of actor-orientation was included in the paradigm to examine how the neural mechanisms differ with respect to personal engagement during a social interaction versus passively observing an interaction. Activity in the lateral occipital cortex and precentral gyrus was found sensitive to actor-orientation during social interactions. Lastly, by manipulating face-visibility we tested whether facial information alone is the primary driver of neural activation differences observed between social and nonsocial gestures. We discovered that activity in the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) and fusiform gyrus (FFG) was partially driven by observing facial expressions during social gestures. Altogether, using multiple factors associated with processing of natural social interaction, we conceptually advance our understanding of how social stimuli is processed in the brain and discuss the application of this paradigm to clinical populations where atypical social cognition is manifested as a key symptom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Saggar
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, USA.
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Straube B, He Y, Steines M, Gebhardt H, Kircher T, Sammer G, Nagels A. Supramodal neural processing of abstract information conveyed by speech and gesture. Front Behav Neurosci 2013; 7:120. [PMID: 24062652 PMCID: PMC3772311 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstractness and modality of interpersonal communication have a considerable impact on comprehension. They are relevant for determining thoughts and constituting internal models of the environment. Whereas concrete object-related information can be represented in mind irrespective of language, abstract concepts require a representation in speech. Consequently, modality-independent processing of abstract information can be expected. Here we investigated the neural correlates of abstractness (abstract vs. concrete) and modality (speech vs. gestures), to identify an abstractness-specific supramodal neural network. During fMRI data acquisition 20 participants were presented with videos of an actor either speaking sentences with an abstract-social [AS] or concrete-object-related content [CS], or performing meaningful abstract-social emblematic [AG] or concrete-object-related tool-use gestures [CG]. Gestures were accompanied by a foreign language to increase the comparability between conditions and to frame the communication context of the gesture videos. Participants performed a content judgment task referring to the person vs. object-relatedness of the utterances. The behavioral data suggest a comparable comprehension of contents communicated by speech or gesture. Furthermore, we found common neural processing for abstract information independent of modality (AS > CS ∩ AG > CG) in a left hemispheric network including the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), temporal pole, and medial frontal cortex. Modality specific activations were found in bilateral occipital, parietal, and temporal as well as right inferior frontal brain regions for gesture (G > S) and in left anterior temporal regions and the left angular gyrus for the processing of speech semantics (S > G). These data support the idea that abstract concepts are represented in a supramodal manner. Consequently, gestures referring to abstract concepts are processed in a predominantly left hemispheric language related neural network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Straube
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University Marburg Marburg, Germany
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