1
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Forbes CE. On the neural networks of self and other bias and their role in emergent social interactions. Cortex 2024; 177:113-129. [PMID: 38848651 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.05.002] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Extensive research has documented the brain networks that play an integral role in bias, or the alteration and filtration of information processing in a manner that fundamentally favors an individual. The roots of bias, whether self- or other-oriented, are a complex constellation of neural and psychological processes that start at the most fundamental levels of sensory processing. From the millisecond information is received in the brain it is filtered at various levels and through various brain networks in relation to extant intrinsic activity to provide individuals with a perception of reality that complements and satisfies the conscious perceptions they have for themselves and the cultures in which they were reared. The products of these interactions, in turn, are dynamically altered by the introduction of others, be they friends or strangers who are similar or different in socially meaningful ways. While much is known about the various ways that basic biases alter specific aspects of neural function to support various forms of bias, the breadth and scope of the phenomenon remains entirely unclear. The purpose of this review is to examine the brain networks that shape (i.e., bias) the self-concept and how interactions with similar (ingroup) compared to dissimilar (outgroup) others alter these network (and subsequent interpersonal) interactions in fundamental ways. Throughout, focus is placed on an emerging understanding of the brain as a complex system, which suggests that many of these network interactions likely occur on a non-linear scale that blurs the lines between network hierarchies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad E Forbes
- Social Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA; Florida Atlantic University Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, USA.
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2
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Fischer J. Physical reasoning is the missing link between action goals and kinematics: A comment on "An active inference model of hierarchical action understanding, learning, and imitation" by Proietti et al. Phys Life Rev 2024; 48:198-200. [PMID: 38350304 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2023.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Fischer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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3
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Lankinen K, Ahveninen J, Uluç I, Daneshzand M, Mareyam A, Kirsch JE, Polimeni JR, Healy BC, Tian Q, Khan S, Nummenmaa A, Wang QM, Green JR, Kimberley TJ, Li S. Role of articulatory motor networks in perceptual categorization of speech signals: a 7T fMRI study. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:11517-11525. [PMID: 37851854 PMCID: PMC10724868 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad384] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Speech and language processing involve complex interactions between cortical areas necessary for articulatory movements and auditory perception and a range of areas through which these are connected and interact. Despite their fundamental importance, the precise mechanisms underlying these processes are not fully elucidated. We measured BOLD signals from normal hearing participants using high-field 7 Tesla fMRI with 1-mm isotropic voxel resolution. The subjects performed 2 speech perception tasks (discrimination and classification) and a speech production task during the scan. By employing univariate and multivariate pattern analyses, we identified the neural signatures associated with speech production and perception. The left precentral, premotor, and inferior frontal cortex regions showed significant activations that correlated with phoneme category variability during perceptual discrimination tasks. In addition, the perceived sound categories could be decoded from signals in a region of interest defined based on activation related to production task. The results support the hypothesis that articulatory motor networks in the left hemisphere, typically associated with speech production, may also play a critical role in the perceptual categorization of syllables. The study provides valuable insights into the intricate neural mechanisms that underlie speech processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaisu Lankinen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Jyrki Ahveninen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Işıl Uluç
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Mohammad Daneshzand
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Azma Mareyam
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - John E Kirsch
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Jonathan R Polimeni
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Brian C Healy
- Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Qiyuan Tian
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Sheraz Khan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Aapo Nummenmaa
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Qing Mei Wang
- Stroke Biological Recovery Laboratory, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, The Teaching Affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - Jordan R Green
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA 02129, United States
| | - Teresa J Kimberley
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA 02129, United States
| | - Shasha Li
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
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4
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Vannuscorps G, Caramazza A. Effector-specific motor simulation supplements core action recognition processes in adverse conditions. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2023; 18:nsad046. [PMID: 37688518 PMCID: PMC10576201 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsad046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Observing other people acting activates imitative motor plans in the observer. Whether, and if so when and how, such 'effector-specific motor simulation' contributes to action recognition remains unclear. We report that individuals born without upper limbs (IDs)-who cannot covertly imitate upper-limb movements-are significantly less accurate at recognizing degraded (but not intact) upper-limb than lower-limb actions (i.e. point-light animations). This finding emphasizes the need to reframe the current controversy regarding the role of effector-specific motor simulation in action recognition: instead of focusing on the dichotomy between motor and non-motor theories, the field would benefit from new hypotheses specifying when and how effector-specific motor simulation may supplement core action recognition processes to accommodate the full variety of action stimuli that humans can recognize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Vannuscorps
- Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Cardinal Mercier 10, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue E. Mounier 53, Brussels 1200, Belgium
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Kirkland Street 33, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Alfonso Caramazza
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Kirkland Street 33, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- CIMEC (Center for Mind-Brain Sciences), University of Trento, Via delle Regole 101, Mattarello TN 38123, Italy
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5
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Rao KN, Arora RD, Singh A, Dange P, Nagarkar NM. Observational Learning in Surgical Skill Development. Indian J Surg Oncol 2023; 14:540-544. [PMID: 37900636 PMCID: PMC10611665 DOI: 10.1007/s13193-023-01798-6] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Observation plays a key role in the development of surgical skills, as it allows trainees to learn from experts and improve their performance through trial-and-error practice. This process, known as motor learning, involves the creation of new neural pathways that enable precise control of surgical instruments through hand movements. In recent years, there has been a shift towards minimally invasive surgery, which requires surgeons to continually learn new motor skills to control specialized instrumentation. Motor learning can be enhanced through repetition and the observation of expert performances. Observational learning is particularly useful when it is used in combination with physical practice, as it can provide hints and clues about important aspects of the task that may not be immediately apparent through verbal instruction alone. The role of mirror neurons, which are activated both when an action is performed and when it is observed, is also important in the process of observational learning. By understanding the mechanisms behind observational learning and the factors that influence its effectiveness, trainers can optimize the use of this method in surgical training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Nagaraja Rao
- Head Neck Surgery and Oncology, Department of Head and Neck Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, India
| | - Ripu Daman Arora
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, India
| | - Ambesh Singh
- Head Neck Surgery and Oncology, Department of Head and Neck Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, India
| | - Prajwal Dange
- Head Neck Surgery and Oncology, Department of Head and Neck Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, India
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6
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Lankinen K, Ahveninen J, Uluç I, Daneshzand M, Mareyam A, Kirsch JE, Polimeni JR, Healy BC, Tian Q, Khan S, Nummenmaa A, Wang QM, Green JR, Kimberley TJ, Li S. Role of Articulatory Motor Networks in Perceptual Categorization of Speech Signals: A 7 T fMRI Study. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.02.547409. [PMID: 37461673 PMCID: PMC10349975 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.02.547409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between brain regions involved in speech production and those that play a role in speech perception is not yet fully understood. We compared speech production related brain activity with activations resulting from perceptual categorization of syllables using high field 7 Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 1-mm isotropic voxel resolution, enabling high localization accuracy compared to previous studies. METHODS Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals were obtained in 20 normal hearing subjects using a simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) 7T echo-planar imaging (EPI) acquisition with whole-head coverage and 1 mm isotropic resolution. In a speech production localizer task, subjects were asked to produce a silent lip-round vowel /u/ in response to the visual cue "U" or purse their lips when they saw the cue "P". In a phoneme discrimination task, subjects were presented with pairs of syllables, which were equiprobably identical or different along an 8-step continuum between the prototypic /ba/ and /da/ sounds. After the presentation of each stimulus pair, the subjects were asked to indicate whether the two syllables they heard were identical or different by pressing one of two buttons. In a phoneme classification task, the subjects heard only one syllable and asked to indicate whether it was /ba/ or /da/. RESULTS Univariate fMRI analyses using a parametric modulation approach suggested that left motor, premotor, and frontal cortex BOLD activations correlate with phoneme category variability in the /ba/-/da/ discrimination task. In contrast, the variability related to acoustic features of the phonemes were the highest in the right primary auditory cortex. Our multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) suggested that left precentral/inferior frontal cortex areas, which were associated with speech production according to the localizer task, play a role also in perceptual categorization of the syllables. CONCLUSIONS The results support the hypothesis that articulatory motor networks in the left hemisphere that are activated during speech production could also have a role in perceptual categorization of syllables. Importantly, high voxel-resolution combined with advanced coil technology allowed us to pinpoint the exact brain regions involved in both perception and production tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaisu Lankinen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Jyrki Ahveninen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Işıl Uluç
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Mohammad Daneshzand
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Azma Mareyam
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
| | - John E. Kirsch
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Jonathan R. Polimeni
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Brian C. Healy
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
- Stroke Biological Recovery Laboratory, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, the teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, US
| | - Qiyuan Tian
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Sheraz Khan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Aapo Nummenmaa
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Qing-mei Wang
- Stroke Biological Recovery Laboratory, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, the teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, US
| | - Jordan R. Green
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions Boston, MA, US
| | - Teresa J. Kimberley
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, US
| | - Shasha Li
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, US
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
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7
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Foster Vander Elst O, Foster NHD, Vuust P, Keller PE, Kringelbach ML. The Neuroscience of Dance: A Conceptual Framework and Systematic Review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 150:105197. [PMID: 37100162 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105197] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Ancient and culturally universal, dance pervades many areas of life and has multiple benefits. In this article, we provide a conceptual framework and systematic review, as a guide for researching the neuroscience of dance. We identified relevant articles following PRISMA guidelines, and summarised and evaluated all original results. We identified avenues for future research in: the interactive and collective aspects of dance; groove; dance performance; dance observation; and dance therapy. Furthermore, the interactive and collective aspects of dance constitute a vital part of the field but have received almost no attention from a neuroscientific perspective so far. Dance and music engage overlapping brain networks, including common regions involved in perception, action, and emotion. In music and dance, rhythm, melody, and harmony are processed in an active, sustained pleasure cycle giving rise to action, emotion, and learning, led by activity in specific hedonic brain networks. The neuroscience of dance is an exciting field, which may yield information concerning links between psychological processes and behaviour, human flourishing, and the concept of eudaimonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Foster Vander Elst
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark; Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, UK.
| | | | - Peter Vuust
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Peter E Keller
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark; The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Australia
| | - Morten L Kringelbach
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark; Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK
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8
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Garcia-Pelegrin E, Miller R, Wilkins C, Clayton NS. Manual action expectation and biomechanical ability in three species of New World monkey. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1803-1808.e2. [PMID: 37019106 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Being able to anticipate another's actions is a crucial ability for social animals because it allows for coordinated reactions. However, little is known regarding how hand morphology and biomechanical ability influences such predictions. Sleight of hand magic capitalizes on the observer's expectations of specific manual movements,1,2 making it an optimal model to investigate the intersection between the ability to manually produce an action and the ability to predict the actions of others. The French drop effect involves mimicking a hand-to-hand object transfer by pantomiming a partially occluded precision grip. Therefore, to be misled by it, the observer ought to infer the opposing movement of the magician's thumb.3 Here, we report how three species of platyrrhine with inherently distinct biomechanical ability4,5,6-common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), Humboldt's squirrel monkeys (Saimiri cassiquiarensis), and yellow-breasted capuchins (Sapajus xanthosternos)-experienced this effect. Additionally, we included an adapted version of the trick using a grip that all primates can perform (power grip), thus removing the opposing thumb as the causal agent of the effect. When observing the French drop, only the species with full or partial opposable thumbs were misled by it, just like humans. Conversely, the adapted version of the trick misled all three monkey species, regardless of their manual anatomy. The results provide evidence of a strong interaction between the physical ability to approximate a manual movement and the predictions primates make when observing the actions of others, highlighting the importance of physical factors in shaping the perception of actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Garcia-Pelegrin
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117572, Singapore; Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK.
| | - Rachael Miller
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK; School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
| | - Clive Wilkins
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Nicola S Clayton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
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9
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The Influence of Conventional and Innovative Rehabilitation Methods on Brain Plasticity Induction in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12051880. [PMID: 36902665 PMCID: PMC10003891 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical rehabilitation and physical activity are known non-pharmacological methods of treating multiple sclerosis. Both lead to an improvement in physical fitness in patients with movement deficits while improving cognitive function and coordination. These changes occur through the induction of brain plasticity. This review presents the basics of the induction of brain plasticity in response to physical rehabilitation. It also analyzes the latest literature evaluating the impact of traditional physical rehabilitation methods, as well as innovative virtual reality-based rehabilitation methods, on the induction of brain plasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis.
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10
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Brain-Computer Interface Training of mu EEG Rhythms in Intellectually Impaired Children with Autism: A Feasibility Case Series. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2023; 48:229-245. [PMID: 36607454 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-022-09576-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies show that neurofeedback training (NFT) of mu rhythms improves behavior and EEG mu rhythm suppression during action observation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, intellectually impaired persons were excluded because of their behavioral challenges. We aimed to determine if intellectually impaired children with ASD, who were behaviorally prepared to take part in a mu-NFT study using conditioned auditory reinforcers, would show improvements in symptoms and mu suppression following mu-NFT. Seven children with ASD (ages 6-8; mean IQ 70.6 ± 7.5) successfully took part in mu-NFT. Four cases demonstrated positive learning trends (hit rates) during mu-NFT (learners), and three cases did not (non-learners). Artifact-creating behaviors were present during tests of mu suppression for all cases, but were more frequent in non-learners. Following NFT, learners showed behavioral improvements and were more likely to show evidence of a short-term increase in mu suppression relative to non-learners who showed little to no EEG or behavior improvements. Results support mu-NFT's application in some children who otherwise may not have been able to take part without enhanced behavioral preparations. Children who have more limitations in demonstrating learning during NFT, or in providing data with relatively low artifact during task-dependent EEG tests, may have less chance of benefiting from mu-NFT. Improving the identification of ideal mu-NFT candidates, mu-NFT learning rates, source analyses, EEG outcome task performance, population-specific artifact-rejection methods, and the theoretical bases of NFT protocols, could aid future BCI-based, neurorehabilitation efforts.
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11
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Thompson EL, Long EL, Bird G, Catmur C. Is action understanding an automatic process? Both cognitive and perceptual processing are required for the identification of actions and intentions. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2023; 76:70-83. [PMID: 35045777 PMCID: PMC9773155 DOI: 10.1177/17470218221078019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The ability to identify others' actions and intentions, "action understanding," is crucial for successful social interaction. Under direct accounts, action understanding takes place without the involvement of inferential processes, a claim that has yet to be tested using behavioural measures. Using a dual-task paradigm, the present study aimed to establish whether the identification of others' actions and intentions depends on automatic or inferential processing, by manipulating working memory load during performance of a task designed to target the identification of actions and intentions. Experiment 1 tested a novel action understanding task targeting action identification and intention identification. This task was then combined with two working memory manipulations (cognitive: Experiment 2; perceptual: Experiment 3) to determine whether action identification and intention identification are disrupted by concurrent cognitive or perceptual load. Both action identification and intention identification were impaired by concurrent cognitive and perceptual processing, indicating that action understanding requires additional perceptual and cognitive resources. These findings contradict a direct account of action understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Thompson
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Emily L Long
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Geoffrey Bird
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK,MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Caroline Catmur
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK,Caroline Catmur, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
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12
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Miss F, Adriaense J, Burkart J. Towards integrating joint action research: Developmental and evolutionary perspectives on co-representation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 143:104924. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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13
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Klostermann F, Wyrobnik M, Boll M, Ehlen F, Tiedt HO. Tracing embodied word production in persons with Parkinson's disease in distinct motor conditions. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16669. [PMID: 36198900 PMCID: PMC9534912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21106-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Embodied cognition theories posit direct interactions between sensorimotor and mental processing. Various clinical observations have been interpreted in this controversial framework, amongst others, low verb generation in word production tasks performed by persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). If this were the consequence of reduced motor simulation of prevalent action semantics in this word class, reduced PD pathophysiology should result in increased verb production and a general shift of lexical contents towards particular movement-related meanings. 17 persons with PD and bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subhtalamic nucleus (STN) and 17 healthy control persons engaged in a semantically unconstrained, phonemic verbal fluency task, the former in both DBS-off and DBS-on states. The analysis referred to the number of words produced, verb use, and the occurrence of different dimensions of movement-related semantics in the lexical output. Persons with PD produced fewer words than controls. In the DBS-off, but not in the DBS-on condition, the proportion of verbs within this reduced output was lower than in controls. Lowered verb production went in parallel with a semantic shift: in persons with PD in the DBS-off, but not the DBS-on condition, the relatedness of produced words to own body-movement was lower than in controls. In persons with PD, DBS induced-changes of the motor condition appear to go along with formal and semantic shifts in word production. The results are compatible with the idea of some impact of motor system states on lexical processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Klostermann
- Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany. .,Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Michelle Wyrobnik
- Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Moritz Boll
- Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felicitas Ehlen
- Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Jüdisches Krankenhaus Berlin, Heinz-Galinski-Straße 1, 13347, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannes Ole Tiedt
- Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany
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14
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Sivashankar Y, Liu J, Fernandes MA. The importance of performing versus observing meaningful actions, on the enactment benefit to memory. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2022.2102639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Junwen Liu
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
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15
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Bendtz K, Ericsson S, Schneider J, Borg J, Bašnáková J, Uddén J. Individual Differences in Indirect Speech Act Processing Found Outside the Language Network. NEUROBIOLOGY OF LANGUAGE (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2022; 3:287-317. [PMID: 37215561 PMCID: PMC10158615 DOI: 10.1162/nol_a_00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Face-to-face communication requires skills that go beyond core language abilities. In dialogue, we routinely make inferences beyond the literal meaning of utterances and distinguish between different speech acts based on, e.g., contextual cues. It is, however, not known whether such communicative skills potentially overlap with core language skills or other capacities, such as theory of mind (ToM). In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study we investigate these questions by capitalizing on individual variation in pragmatic skills in the general population. Based on behavioral data from 199 participants, we selected participants with higher vs. lower pragmatic skills for the fMRI study (N = 57). In the scanner, participants listened to dialogues including a direct or an indirect target utterance. The paradigm allowed participants at the whole group level to (passively) distinguish indirect from direct speech acts, as evidenced by a robust activity difference between these speech acts in an extended language network including ToM areas. Individual differences in pragmatic skills modulated activation in two additional regions outside the core language regions (one cluster in the left lateral parietal cortex and intraparietal sulcus and one in the precuneus). The behavioral results indicate segregation of pragmatic skill from core language and ToM. In conclusion, contextualized and multimodal communication requires a set of interrelated pragmatic processes that are neurocognitively segregated: (1) from core language and (2) partly from ToM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Julia Borg
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden
| | - Jana Bašnáková
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Institute of Experimental Psychology, Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences SAS, Slovakia
| | - Julia Uddén
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden
- Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University, Sweden
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16
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Rovetti J, Copelli F, Russo FA. Audio and visual speech emotion activate the left pre-supplementary motor area. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 22:291-303. [PMID: 34811708 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00961-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sensorimotor brain areas have been implicated in the recognition of emotion expressed on the face and through nonverbal vocalizations. However, no previous study has assessed whether sensorimotor cortices are recruited during the perception of emotion in speech-a signal that includes both audio (speech sounds) and visual (facial speech movements) components. To address this gap in the literature, we recruited 24 participants to listen to speech clips produced in a way that was either happy, sad, or neutral in expression. These stimuli also were presented in one of three modalities: audio-only (hearing the voice but not seeing the face), video-only (seeing the face but not hearing the voice), or audiovisual. Brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography, subjected to independent component analysis, and source-localized. We found that the left presupplementary motor area was more active in response to happy and sad stimuli than neutral stimuli, as indexed by greater mu event-related desynchronization. This effect did not differ by the sensory modality of the stimuli. Activity levels in other sensorimotor brain areas did not differ by emotion, although they were greatest in response to visual-only and audiovisual stimuli. One possible explanation for the pre-SMA result is that this brain area may actively support speech emotion recognition by using our extensive experience expressing emotion to generate sensory predictions that in turn guide our perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Rovetti
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Fran Copelli
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Frank A Russo
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada.
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17
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Embodied cognition in neurodegenerative disorders: What do we know so far? A narrative review focusing on the mirror neuron system and clinical applications. J Clin Neurosci 2022; 98:66-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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18
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Decroix J, Rossetti Y, Quesque F. Les neurones miroirs, hommes à tout faire des neurosciences : analyse critique des limites méthodologiques et théoriques. ANNEE PSYCHOLOGIQUE 2022. [DOI: 10.3917/anpsy1.221.0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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19
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Eddy CM. The Transdiagnostic Relevance of Self-Other Distinction to Psychiatry Spans Emotional, Cognitive and Motor Domains. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:797952. [PMID: 35360118 PMCID: PMC8960177 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.797952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-other distinction refers to the ability to distinguish between our own and other people's physical and mental states (actions, perceptions, emotions etc.). Both the right temporo-parietal junction and brain areas associated with the human mirror neuron system are likely to critically influence self-other distinction, given their respective contributions to theory of mind and embodied empathy. The degree of appropriate self-other distinction will vary according to the exact social situation, and how helpful it is to feel into, or remain detached from, another person's mental state. Indeed, the emotional resonance that we can share with others affords the gift of empathy, but over-sharing may pose a downside, leading to a range of difficulties from personal distress to paranoia, and perhaps even motor tics and compulsions. The aim of this perspective paper is to consider how evidence from behavioral and neurophysiological studies supports a role for problems with self-other distinction in a range of psychiatric symptoms spanning the emotional, cognitive and motor domains. The various signs and symptoms associated with problematic self-other distinction comprise both maladaptive and adaptive (compensatory) responses to dysfunction within a common underlying neuropsychological mechanism, compelling the adoption of more holistic transdiagnostic therapeutic approaches within Psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M Eddy
- Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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20
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Valizadeh A, Mbwogge M, Rasouli Yazdi A, Hedayati Amlashi N, Haadi A, Shayestefar M, Moassefi M. The mirror mechanism in schizophrenia: A systematic review and qualitative meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:884828. [PMID: 36213922 PMCID: PMC9532849 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.884828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mirror neuron system (MNS) consists of visuomotor neurons that are responsible for the mirror neuron activity (MNA), meaning that each time an individual observes another individual performing an action, these neurons encode that action, and are activated in the observer's cortical motor system. Previous studies report its malfunction in autism, opening doors to investigate the underlying pathophysiology of the disorder in a more elaborate way and coming up with new rehabilitation methods. The study of MNA function in schizophrenia patients has not been as frequent and conclusive as in autism. In this research, we aimed to evaluate the functional integrity of MNA and the microstructural integrity of MNS in schizophrenia patients. METHODS We included case-control studies that have evaluated MNA in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls using a variety of objective assessment tools. In August 2022, we searched Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science for eligible studies. We used an adapted version of the NIH Quality Assessment of Case-Control Studies tool to assess the quality of the included studies. Evidence was analyzed using vote counting methods of the direction of the effect and was tested statistically using the Sign test. Certainty of evidence was assessed using CERQual. RESULTS We included 32 studies for the analysis. Statistical tests revealed decreased MNA (p = 0.002) in schizophrenia patients. The certainty of the evidence was judged to be moderate. Investigations of heterogeneity revealed a possible relationship between the age and the positive symptoms of participants in the included studies and the direction of the observed effect. DISCUSSION This finding contributes to gaining a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of the disorder by revealing its possible relation to some of the symptoms in schizophrenia patients, while also highlighting a new commonality with autism. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO identifier: CRD42021236453.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Valizadeh
- Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | | | - Ainaaz Haadi
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Monir Shayestefar
- Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mana Moassefi
- Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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21
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Kislinger L. Photographs of Actions: What Makes Them Special Cues to Social Perception. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11111382. [PMID: 34827381 PMCID: PMC8615998 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
I have reviewed studies on neural responses to pictured actions in the action observation network (AON) and the cognitive functions of these responses. Based on this review, I have analyzed the specific representational characteristics of action photographs. There has been consensus that AON responses provide viewers with knowledge of observed or pictured actions, but there has been controversy about the properties of this knowledge. Is this knowledge causally provided by AON activities or is it dependent on conceptual processing? What elements of actions does it refer to, and how generalized or specific is it? The answers to these questions have come from studies that used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to stimulate motor or somatosensory cortices. In conjunction with electromyography (EMG), TMS allows researchers to examine changes of the excitability in the corticospinal tract and muscles of people viewing pictured actions. The timing of these changes and muscle specificity enable inferences to be drawn about the cognitive products of processing pictured actions in the AON. Based on a review of studies using TMS and other neuroscience methods, I have proposed a novel hypothetical account that describes the characteristics of action photographs that make them effective cues to social perception. This account includes predictions that can be tested experimentally.
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22
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Zarka D, Cebolla AM, Cheron G. [Mirror neurons, neural substrate of action understanding?]. Encephale 2021; 48:83-91. [PMID: 34625217 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2021.06.005] [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: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In 1992, the Laboratory of Human Physiology at the University of Parma (Italy) publish a study describing "mirror" neurons in the macaque that activate both when the monkey performs an action and when it observes an experimenter performing the same action. The research team behind this discovery postulates that the mirror neurons system is the neural basis of our ability to understand the actions of others, through the motor mapping of the observed action on the observer's motor repertory (direct-matching hypothesis). Nevertheless, this conception met serious criticism. These critics attempt to relativize their function by placing them within a network of neurocognitive and sensory interdependencies. In short, the essential characteristic of these neurons is to combine the processing of sensory information, especially visual, with that of motor information. Their elementary function would be to provide a motor simulation of the observed action, based on visual information from it. They can contribute, with other non-mirror areas, to the identification/prediction of the action goal and to the interpretation of the intention of the actor performing it. Studying the connectivity and high frequency synchronizations of the different brain areas involved in action observation would likely provide important information about the dynamic contribution of mirror neurons to "action understanding". The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date analysis of the scientific evidence related to mirror neurons and their elementary functions, as well as to shed light on the contribution of these neurons to our ability to interpret and understand others' actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Zarka
- Faculté des Sciences de la Motricité, laboratoire de neurophysiologie et de biomécanique du mouvement, université Libre de Bruxelles, CP640, 808, route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgique; Unité de Recherche en Sciences de l'Ostéopathie, faculté des Sciences de la Motricité, université Libre de Bruxelles, CP640, 808, route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgique.
| | - A M Cebolla
- Faculté des Sciences de la Motricité, laboratoire de neurophysiologie et de biomécanique du mouvement, université Libre de Bruxelles, CP640, 808, route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgique
| | - G Cheron
- Faculté des Sciences de la Motricité, laboratoire de neurophysiologie et de biomécanique du mouvement, université Libre de Bruxelles, CP640, 808, route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgique; Laboratoire d'électrophysiologie, université de Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgique
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23
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Fischer J, Mahon BZ. What tool representation, intuitive physics, and action have in common: The brain's first-person physics engine. Cogn Neuropsychol 2021; 38:455-467. [PMID: 35994054 DOI: 10.1080/02643294.2022.2106126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
An overlapping set of brain regions in parietal and frontal cortex are engaged by different types of tasks and stimuli: (i) making inferences about the physical structure and dynamics of the world, (ii) passively viewing, or actively interacting with, manipulable objects, and (iii) planning and execution of reaching and grasping actions. We suggest the observed neural overlap is because a common superordinate computation is engaged by each of those different tasks: A forward model of physical reasoning about how first-person actions will affect the world and be affected by unfolding physical events. This perspective offers an account of why some physical predictions are systematically incorrect - there can be a mismatch between how physical scenarios are experimentally framed and the native format of the inferences generated by the brain's first-person physics engine. This perspective generates new empirical expectations about the conditions under which physical reasoning may exhibit systematic biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Fischer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bradford Z Mahon
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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24
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Kilteni K, Engeler P, Boberg I, Maurex L, Ehrsson HH. No evidence for somatosensory attenuation during action observation of self-touch. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6422-6444. [PMID: 34463971 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of mirror neurons in the macaque brain in the 1990s triggered investigations on putative human mirror neurons and their potential functionality. The leading proposed function has been action understanding: Accordingly, we understand the actions of others by 'simulating' them in our own motor system through a direct matching of the visual information to our own motor programmes. Furthermore, it has been proposed that this simulation involves the prediction of the sensory consequences of the observed action, similar to the prediction of the sensory consequences of our executed actions. Here, we tested this proposal by quantifying somatosensory attenuation behaviourally during action observation. Somatosensory attenuation manifests during voluntary action and refers to the perception of self-generated touches as less intense than identical externally generated touches because the self-generated touches are predicted from the motor command. Therefore, we reasoned that if an observer simulates the observed action and, thus, he/she predicts its somatosensory consequences, then he/she should attenuate tactile stimuli simultaneously delivered to his/her corresponding body part. In three separate experiments, we found a systematic attenuation of touches during executed self-touch actions, but we found no evidence for attenuation when such actions were observed. Failure to observe somatosensory attenuation during observation of self-touch is not compatible with the hypothesis that the putative human mirror neuron system automatically predicts the sensory consequences of the observed action. In contrast, our findings emphasize a sharp distinction between the motor representations of self and others.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick Engeler
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ida Boberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linnea Maurex
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - H Henrik Ehrsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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25
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Ferrucci L, Nougaret S, Falcone R, Cirillo R, Ceccarelli F, Genovesio A. Dedicated Representation of Others in the Macaque Frontal Cortex: From Action Monitoring and Prediction to Outcome Evaluation. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:891-907. [PMID: 34428277 PMCID: PMC8841564 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Social neurophysiology has increasingly addressed how several aspects of self and other are distinctly represented in the brain. In social interactions, the self–other distinction is fundamental for discriminating one’s own actions, intentions, and outcomes from those that originate in the external world. In this paper, we review neurophysiological experiments using nonhuman primates that shed light on the importance of the self–other distinction, focusing mainly on the frontal cortex. We start by examining how the findings are impacted by the experimental paradigms that are used, such as the type of social partner or whether a passive or active interaction is required. Next, we describe the 2 sociocognitive systems: mirror and mentalizing. Finally, we discuss how the self–other distinction can occur in different domains to process different aspects of social information: the observation and prediction of others’ actions and the monitoring of others’ rewards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Ferrucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SAPIENZA, University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Simon Nougaret
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SAPIENZA, University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Falcone
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SAPIENZA, University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Cirillo
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Département de Neuroscience Cognitive, CNRS, UMR 5229, 69500 Bron Cedex, France
| | - Francesco Ceccarelli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SAPIENZA, University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.,PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Genovesio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SAPIENZA, University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
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26
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Bennett MS. Five Breakthroughs: A First Approximation of Brain Evolution From Early Bilaterians to Humans. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:693346. [PMID: 34489649 PMCID: PMC8418099 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.693346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retracing the evolutionary steps by which human brains evolved can offer insights into the underlying mechanisms of human brain function as well as the phylogenetic origin of various features of human behavior. To this end, this article presents a model for interpreting the physical and behavioral modifications throughout major milestones in human brain evolution. This model introduces the concept of a "breakthrough" as a useful tool for interpreting suites of brain modifications and the various adaptive behaviors these modifications enabled. This offers a unique view into the ordered steps by which human brains evolved and suggests several unique hypotheses on the mechanisms of human brain function.
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27
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Miguel HO, Condy EE, Nguyen T, Zeytinoglu S, Blick E, Bress K, Khaksari K, Dashtestani H, Millerhagen J, Shahmohammadi S, Fox NA, Gandjbakhche A. Cerebral hemodynamic response during a live action-observation and action-execution task: A fNIRS study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253788. [PMID: 34388157 PMCID: PMC8362964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many studies have examined the location of the action observation network (AON) in human adults, the shared neural correlates of action-observation and action-execution are still unclear partially due to lack of ecologically valid neuroimaging measures. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the feasibility of using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure the neural correlates of action-observation and action execution regions during a live task. Thirty adults reached for objects or observed an experimenter reaching for objects while their cerebral hemodynamic responses including oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) and deoxy-hemoglobin (HbR) were recorded in the sensorimotor and parietal regions. Our results indicated that the parietal regions, including bilateral superior parietal lobule (SPL), bilateral inferior parietal lobule (IPL), right supra-marginal region (SMG) and right angular gyrus (AG) share neural activity during action-observation and action-execution. Our findings confirm the applicability of fNIRS for the study of the AON and lay the foundation for future work with developmental and clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helga O. Miguel
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Emma E. Condy
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thien Nguyen
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Selin Zeytinoglu
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Emily Blick
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kimberly Bress
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kosar Khaksari
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hadis Dashtestani
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John Millerhagen
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sheida Shahmohammadi
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nathan A. Fox
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amir Gandjbakhche
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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28
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Mirror neurons are modulated by grip force and reward expectation in the sensorimotor cortices (S1, M1, PMd, PMv). Sci Rep 2021; 11:15959. [PMID: 34354213 PMCID: PMC8342437 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95536-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mirror Neurons (MNs) respond similarly when primates make or observe grasping movements. Recent work indicates that reward expectation influences rostral M1 (rM1) during manual, observational, and Brain Machine Interface (BMI) reaching movements. Previous work showed MNs are modulated by subjective value. Here we expand on the above work utilizing two non-human primates (NHPs), one male Macaca Radiata (NHP S) and one female Macaca Mulatta (NHP P), that were trained to perform a cued reward level isometric grip-force task, where the NHPs had to apply visually cued grip-force to move and transport a virtual object. We found a population of (S1 area 1–2, rM1, PMd, PMv) units that significantly represented grip-force during manual and observational trials. We found the neural representation of visually cued force was similar during observational trials and manual trials for the same units; however, the representation was weaker during observational trials. Comparing changes in neural time lags between manual and observational tasks indicated that a subpopulation fit the standard MN definition of observational neural activity lagging the visual information. Neural activity in (S1 areas 1–2, rM1, PMd, PMv) significantly represented force and reward expectation. In summary, we present results indicating that sensorimotor cortices have MNs for visually cued force and value.
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29
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Yokoyama H, Kaneko N, Watanabe K, Nakazawa K. Neural decoding of gait phases during motor imagery and improvement of the decoding accuracy by concurrent action observation. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 34082405 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac07bd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective. Brain decoding of motor imagery (MI) not only is crucial for the control of neuroprosthesis but also provides insights into the underlying neural mechanisms. Walking consists of stance and swing phases, which are associated with different biomechanical and neural control features. However, previous knowledge on decoding the MI of gait is limited to simple information (e.g. the classification of 'walking' and 'rest').Approach. Here, we investigated the feasibility of electroencephalogram (EEG) decoding of the two gait phases during the MI of walking and whether the combined use of MI and action observation (AO) would improve decoding accuracy.Main results. We demonstrated that the stance and swing phases could be decoded from EEGs during MI or AO alone. We also demonstrated the decoding accuracy during MI was improved by concurrent AO. The decoding models indicated that the improved decoding accuracy following the combined use of MI and AO was facilitated by the additional information resulting from the concurrent cortical activations related to sensorimotor, visual, and action understanding systems associated with MI and AO.Significance. This study is the first to show that decoding the stance versus swing phases during MI is feasible. The current findings provide fundamental knowledge for neuroprosthetic design and gait rehabilitation, and they expand our understanding of the neural activity underlying AO, MI, and AO + MI of walking.Novelty and significanceBrain decoding of detailed gait-related information during motor imagery (MI) is important for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for gait rehabilitation. This study is the first to show the feasibility of EEG decoding of the stance versus swing phases during MI. We also demonstrated that the combined use of MI and action observation (AO) improves decoding accuracy, which is facilitated by the concurrent and synergistic involvement of the cortical activations for MI and AO. These findings extend the current understanding of neural activity and the combined effects of AO and MI and provide a basis for effective techniques for walking rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Yokoyama
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.,Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Naotsugu Kaneko
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.,Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Katsumi Watanabe
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan.,Faculty of Arts, Design, and Architecture, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2021, Australia
| | - Kimitaka Nakazawa
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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30
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Liu L, Zhang Y, Zhou Q, Garrett DD, Lu C, Chen A, Qiu J, Ding G. Auditory-Articulatory Neural Alignment between Listener and Speaker during Verbal Communication. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:942-951. [PMID: 31318013 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether auditory processing of speech relies on reference to the articulatory motor information of speaker remains elusive. Here, we addressed this issue under a two-brain framework. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was applied to record the brain activities of speakers when telling real-life stories and later of listeners when listening to the audio recordings of these stories. Based on between-brain seed-to-voxel correlation analyses, we revealed that neural dynamics in listeners' auditory temporal cortex are temporally coupled with the dynamics in the speaker's larynx/phonation area. Moreover, the coupling response in listener's left auditory temporal cortex follows the hierarchical organization for speech processing, with response lags in A1+, STG/STS, and MTG increasing linearly. Further, listeners showing greater coupling responses understand the speech better. When comprehension fails, such interbrain auditory-articulation coupling vanishes substantially. These findings suggest that a listener's auditory system and a speaker's articulatory system are inherently aligned during naturalistic verbal interaction, and such alignment is associated with high-level information transfer from the speaker to the listener. Our study provides reliable evidence supporting that references to the articulatory motor information of speaker facilitate speech comprehension under a naturalistic scene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanfang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China.,Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Douglas D Garrett
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Chunming Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Antao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education & Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education & Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Guosheng Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
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31
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Galus W. Whether Mirror and Conceptual Neurons are Myths? Sparse vs. Distributed Neuronal Representations. NETWORK (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2021; 32:110-134. [PMID: 35072588 DOI: 10.1080/0954898x.2022.2029967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multi-layer neural networks, mirror neurons, and gnostic neurons are concepts that assign neural representations to mental representations of percepts and inner sensations. However, none of these approaches alone can explain the higher mental functions, which we observe in natural minds from the third and first-person perspectives through introspection. Recent concepts of preservation of chemical traces of sensory stimuli and hierarchical structures of postsynaptic associations represented by specifically organized groups of neurons combine these concepts and effectively explain much more complex mental functions. To find an operative model and understand how knowledge in the mind creates conscious sensations, we explain how perceptions, sensory impressions, and environment models gain their neural representations. It was pointed out ways to detect the similarity of structures representing previously remembered patterns to the mental and neuronal representations of new perceptions, ways of their associations, and principles of information processing. Supplemented, presented in earlier works, concepts of competition of representations stimulation and factors stimulating their action explain the mind's complex functions, including speech production and recognition. We postulate that using new methods of modelling the neural network's functions through the parallel physical process allows creating a physical model of natural and artificial, conscious, intelligent minds.
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32
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Samadani A, Kim S, Moon J, Kang K, Chau T. Neurophysiological Synchrony Between Children With Severe Physical Disabilities and Their Parents During Music Therapy. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:531915. [PMID: 33994913 PMCID: PMC8119766 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.531915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although physiological synchronization has been associated with the level of empathy in emotionally meaningful relationships, little is known about the interbrain synchrony between non-speaking children with severe disabilities and their familial caregivers. In a repeated measures observational study, we ascertained the degree of interbrain synchrony during music therapy in 10 child-parent dyads, where the children were non-speaking and living with severe motor impairments. Interbrain synchrony was quantified via measurements of spectral coherence and Granger causality between child and parent electroencephalographic (EEG) signals collected during ten 15-min music therapy sessions per dyad, where parents were present as non-participating, covert observers. Using cluster-based permutation tests, we found significant child-parent interbrain synchrony, manifesting most prominently across dyads in frontal brain regions within β and low γ frequencies. Specifically, significant dyadic coherence was observed contra-laterally, between child frontal right and parental frontal left regions at β and lower γ bands in empathy-related brain areas. Furthermore, significant Granger influences were detected bidirectionally (from child to parent and vice versa) in the same frequency bands. In all dyads, significant increases in session-specific coherence and Granger influences were observed over the time course of a music therapy session. The observed interbrain synchrony suggests a cognitive-emotional coupling during music therapy between child and parent that is responsive to change. These findings encourage further study of the socio-empathic capacity and interpersonal relationships formed between caregivers and non-speaking children with severe physical impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Song Kim
- School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Jae Moon
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kyurim Kang
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Music and Health Science Research Collaboratory (MaHRC), Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tom Chau
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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33
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Condy EE, Miguel HO, Millerhagen J, Harrison D, Khaksari K, Fox N, Gandjbakhche A. Characterizing the Action-Observation Network Through Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: A Review. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:627983. [PMID: 33679349 PMCID: PMC7930074 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.627983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a neuroimaging technique that has undergone tremendous growth over the last decade due to methodological advantages over other measures of brain activation. The action-observation network (AON), a system of brain structures proposed to have “mirroring” abilities (e.g., active when an individual completes an action or when they observe another complete that action), has been studied in humans through neural measures such as fMRI and electroencephalogram (EEG); however, limitations of these methods are problematic for AON paradigms. For this reason, fNIRS is proposed as a solution to investigating the AON in humans. The present review article briefly summarizes previous neural findings in the AON and examines the state of AON research using fNIRS in adults. A total of 14 fNIRS articles are discussed, paying particular attention to methodological choices and considerations while summarizing the general findings to aid in developing better protocols to study the AON through fNIRS. Additionally, future directions of this work are discussed, specifically in relation to researching AON development and potential multimodal imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Condy
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Helga O Miguel
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - John Millerhagen
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Doug Harrison
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kosar Khaksari
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Nathan Fox
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Amir Gandjbakhche
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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34
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Garcia-Oscos F, Koch TMI, Pancholi H, Trusel M, Daliparthi V, Co M, Park SE, Ayhan F, Alam DH, Holdway JE, Konopka G, Roberts TF. Autism-linked gene FoxP1 selectively regulates the cultural transmission of learned vocalizations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabd2827. [PMID: 33536209 PMCID: PMC7857683 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd2827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by impaired learning of social skills and language. Memories of how parents and other social models behave are used to guide behavioral learning. How ASD-linked genes affect the intertwined aspects of observational learning and behavioral imitation is not known. Here, we examine how disrupted expression of the ASD gene FOXP1, which causes severe impairments in speech and language learning, affects the cultural transmission of birdsong between adult and juvenile zebra finches. FoxP1 is widely expressed in striatal-projecting forebrain mirror neurons. Knockdown of FoxP1 in this circuit prevents juvenile birds from forming memories of an adult song model but does not interrupt learning how to vocally imitate a previously memorized song. This selective learning deficit is associated with potent disruptions to experience-dependent structural and synaptic plasticity in mirror neurons. Thus, FoxP1 regulates the ability to form memories essential to the cultural transmission of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Garcia-Oscos
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - T M I Koch
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - H Pancholi
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - M Trusel
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - V Daliparthi
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - M Co
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - S E Park
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - F Ayhan
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - D H Alam
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - J E Holdway
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - G Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - T F Roberts
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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35
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Ianì F. Embodied cognition: So flexible as to be "disembodied"? Conscious Cogn 2021; 88:103075. [PMID: 33493962 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2021.103075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This review aims to explore what I call the "Embodiment Cost Hypothesis" (ECH), according to which, when humans "embody" a part of the world other than their bodies, a measurable cost is detectable on their real bodies. The review analyzes experimental evidence in favor of the ECH by examining studies from different research fields, including studies of action observation (2), tool-use (3), rubber hand illusion (4), and full-body illusions (5). In light of this literature, this review argues that embodiment effects can profitably be seen as phenomena associated with both benefits (resulting from the embodiment of external objects/bodies) and costs (resulting from the disembodiment at various levels of the subject's own body). Implications are discussed in relation to the ongoing debate on the embodied cognition (EC) approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ianì
- Università di Torino, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Via Verdi, 10, 10123 Turin, Italy.
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36
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Michaelis K, Miyakoshi M, Norato G, Medvedev AV, Turkeltaub PE. Motor engagement relates to accurate perception of phonemes and audiovisual words, but not auditory words. Commun Biol 2021; 4:108. [PMID: 33495548 PMCID: PMC7835217 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01634-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A longstanding debate has surrounded the role of the motor system in speech perception, but progress in this area has been limited by tasks that only examine isolated syllables and conflate decision-making with perception. Using an adaptive task that temporally isolates perception from decision-making, we examined an EEG signature of motor activity (sensorimotor μ/beta suppression) during the perception of auditory phonemes, auditory words, audiovisual words, and environmental sounds while holding difficulty constant at two levels (Easy/Hard). Results revealed left-lateralized sensorimotor μ/beta suppression that was related to perception of speech but not environmental sounds. Audiovisual word and phoneme stimuli showed enhanced left sensorimotor μ/beta suppression for correct relative to incorrect trials, while auditory word stimuli showed enhanced suppression for incorrect trials. Our results demonstrate that motor involvement in perception is left-lateralized, is specific to speech stimuli, and it not simply the result of domain-general processes. These results provide evidence for an interactive network for speech perception in which dorsal stream motor areas are dynamically engaged during the perception of speech depending on the characteristics of the speech signal. Crucially, this motor engagement has different effects on the perceptual outcome depending on the lexicality and modality of the speech stimulus. Michaelis et al. used extra-cranial EEG during a forced-choice identification task to investigate the role of the motor system in speech perception. Their findings suggest that left hemisphere dorsal stream motor areas are dynamically engaged during speech perception based on the properties of the stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Michaelis
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.,Human Cortical Physiology and Stroke Neurorehabilitation Section, National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Makoto Miyakoshi
- Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, Institute for Neural Computation, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Gina Norato
- Clinical Trials Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrei V Medvedev
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peter E Turkeltaub
- Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. .,Research Division, Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
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37
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Putnam PT, Chang SWC. Social processing by the primate medial frontal cortex. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2021; 158:213-248. [PMID: 33785146 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The primate medial frontal cortex is comprised of several brain regions that are consistently implicated in regulating complex social behaviors. The medial frontal cortex is also critically involved in many non-social behaviors, such as those involved in reward, affective, and decision-making processes, broadly implicating the fundamental role of the medial frontal cortex in internally guided cognition. An essential question therefore is what unique contributions, if any, does the medial frontal cortex make to social behaviors? In this chapter, we outline several neural algorithms necessary for mediating adaptive social interactions and discuss selected evidence from behavioral neurophysiology experiments supporting the role of the medial frontal cortex in implementing these algorithms. By doing so, we primarily focus on research in nonhuman primates and examine several key attributes of the medial frontal cortex. Specifically, we review neuronal substrates in the medial frontal cortex uniquely suitable for enabling social monitoring, observational and vicarious learning, as well as predicting the behaviors of social partners. Moreover, by utilizing the three levels of organization in information processing systems proposed by Marr (1982) and recently adapted by Lockwood, Apps, and Chang (2020) for social information processing, we survey selected social functions of the medial frontal cortex through the lens of socially relevant algorithms and implementations. Overall, this chapter provides a broad overview of the behavioral neurophysiology literature endorsing the importance of socially relevant neural algorithms implemented by the primate medial frontal cortex for regulating social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip T Putnam
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
| | - Steve W C Chang
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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38
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Crucitti J, Hyde C, Stokes MA. Hammering that Nail: Varied Praxis Motor Skills in Younger Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:3253-3262. [PMID: 31297643 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04136-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies measuring praxis abilities in young autistic children have only used praxis measures that were not optimised for autistic individuals. Hence, we used the FAB-R to measure praxis skills in autistic (n = 38) and typically developing (TD) children (n = 38) aged between four and 10 years. Praxis abilities were generally not different between autistic and TD children. However, total dyspraxia and errors during verbal command and tool use were impaired in autistic children from a specialist autistic school (SAS). In contrast, autistic participants from the GC typically did not differ in praxis performance compared to controls. Hence, praxis abilities significantly vary between autistic younger children. Exploring mediating influences of such variability is imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Crucitti
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Christian Hyde
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Mark A Stokes
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
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39
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Berezutskaya J, Baratin C, Freudenburg ZV, Ramsey NF. High-density intracranial recordings reveal a distinct site in anterior dorsal precentral cortex that tracks perceived speech. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:4587-4609. [PMID: 32744403 PMCID: PMC7555065 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Various brain regions are implicated in speech processing, and the specific function of some of them is better understood than others. In particular, involvement of the dorsal precentral cortex (dPCC) in speech perception remains debated, and attribution of the function of this region is more or less restricted to motor processing. In this study, we investigated high-density intracranial responses to speech fragments of a feature film, aiming to determine whether dPCC is engaged in perception of continuous speech. Our findings show that dPCC exhibited preference to speech over other tested sounds. Moreover, the identified area was involved in tracking of speech auditory properties including speech spectral envelope, its rhythmic phrasal pattern and pitch contour. DPCC also showed the ability to filter out noise from the perceived speech. Comparing these results to data from motor experiments showed that the identified region had a distinct location in dPCC, anterior to the hand motor area and superior to the mouth articulator region. The present findings uncovered with high-density intracranial recordings help elucidate the functional specialization of PCC and demonstrate the unique role of its anterior dorsal region in continuous speech perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Berezutskaya
- Brain Center, Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Clarissa Baratin
- Brain Center, Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Université Grenoble AlpesGrenoble Institut des NeurosciencesGrenobleFrance
| | - Zachary V. Freudenburg
- Brain Center, Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Nicolas F. Ramsey
- Brain Center, Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
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40
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García AM, Hesse E, Birba A, Adolfi F, Mikulan E, Caro MM, Petroni A, Bekinschtein TA, del Carmen García M, Silva W, Ciraolo C, Vaucheret E, Sedeño L, Ibáñez A. Time to Face Language: Embodied Mechanisms Underpin the Inception of Face-Related Meanings in the Human Brain. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:6051-6068. [PMID: 32577713 PMCID: PMC7673477 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In construing meaning, the brain recruits multimodal (conceptual) systems and embodied (modality-specific) mechanisms. Yet, no consensus exists on how crucial the latter are for the inception of semantic distinctions. To address this issue, we combined electroencephalographic (EEG) and intracranial EEG (iEEG) to examine when nouns denoting facial body parts (FBPs) and nonFBPs are discriminated in face-processing and multimodal networks. First, FBP words increased N170 amplitude (a hallmark of early facial processing). Second, they triggered fast (~100 ms) activity boosts within the face-processing network, alongside later (~275 ms) effects in multimodal circuits. Third, iEEG recordings from face-processing hubs allowed decoding ~80% of items before 200 ms, while classification based on multimodal-network activity only surpassed ~70% after 250 ms. Finally, EEG and iEEG connectivity between both networks proved greater in early (0-200 ms) than later (200-400 ms) windows. Collectively, our findings indicate that, at least for some lexico-semantic categories, meaning is construed through fast reenactments of modality-specific experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo M García
- Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQB Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Faculty of Education, National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), MM5502GKA Mendoza, Argentina
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 9170020 Santiago, Chile
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, CA 94158 San Francisco, USA
| | - Eugenia Hesse
- Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQB Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Birba
- Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQB Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico Adolfi
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQB Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Mikulan
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Miguel Martorell Caro
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQB Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Petroni
- Instituto de Ingeniería Biomédica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1063ACV Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Inteligencia Artificial Aplicada, Departamento de Computación, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, ICC-CONICET, C1063ACV Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - María del Carmen García
- Programa de Cirugía de Epilepsia, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, C1181ACH, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Walter Silva
- Programa de Cirugía de Epilepsia, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, C1181ACH, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos Ciraolo
- Programa de Cirugía de Epilepsia, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, C1181ACH, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Esteban Vaucheret
- Programa de Cirugía de Epilepsia, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, C1181ACH, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas Sedeño
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQB Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQB Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, CA 94158 San Francisco, USA
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, 8320000, Santiago, Chile
- Universidad Autónoma del Caribe, 080003, Barranquilla, Colombia
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41
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Cayol Z, Nazir TA. Why Language Processing Recruits Modality Specific Brain Regions: It Is Not About Understanding Words, but About Modelling Situations. J Cogn 2020; 3:35. [PMID: 33043245 PMCID: PMC7528693 DOI: 10.5334/joc.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether language comprehension requires the participation of brain structures that evolved for perception and action has been a subject of intense debate. While brain-imaging evidence for the involvement of such modality-specific regions has grown, the fact that lesions to these structures do not necessarily erase word knowledge has invited the conclusion that language-induced activity in these structures might not be essential for word recognition. Why language processing recruits these structures remains unanswered, however. Here, we examine the original findings from a slightly different perspective. We first consider the 'original' function of structures in modality-specific brain regions that are recruited by language activity. We propose that these structures help elaborate 'internal forward models' in motor control (c.f. emulators). Emulators are brain systems that capture the relationship between an action and its sensory consequences. During language processing emulators could thus allow accessing associative memories. We further postulate the existence of a linguistic system that exploits, in a rule-based manner, emulators and other nonlinguistic brain systems, to gain complementary (and redundant) information during language processing. Emulators are therefore just one of several sources of information. We emphasize that whether a given word-form triggers activity in modality-specific brain regions depends on the linguistic context and not on the word-form as such. The role of modality-specific systems in language processing is thus not to help understanding words but to model the verbally depicted situation by supplying memorized context information. We present a model derived from these assumptions and provide predictions and perspectives for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoé Cayol
- Univ. Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5304 – Institut des Sciences Cognitives – Marc Jeannerod, Bron, FR
| | - Tatjana A. Nazir
- Univ. Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5304 – Institut des Sciences Cognitives – Marc Jeannerod, Bron, FR
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9193 – SCALab – Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Lille, FR
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42
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Cabrera-Álvarez MJ, Clayton NS. Neural Processes Underlying Tool Use in Humans, Macaques, and Corvids. Front Psychol 2020; 11:560669. [PMID: 33117228 PMCID: PMC7561402 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.560669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It was thought that tool use in animals is an adaptive specialization. Recent studies, however, have shown that some non-tool-users, such as rooks and jays, can use and manufacture tools in laboratory settings. Despite the abundant evidence of tool use in corvids, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying tool use in this family of birds. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the neural processes underlying tool use in humans, macaques and corvids. We suggest a possible neural network for tool use in macaques and hope this might inspire research to discover a similar brain network in corvids. We hope to establish a framework to elucidate the neural mechanisms that supported the convergent evolution of tool use in birds and mammals.
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43
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Chen YH, Chang CY, Huang SK, Yen NS. Nonlinear engagement of action observation network underlying action anticipation in players with different levels of expertise. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:5199-5214. [PMID: 32845066 PMCID: PMC7670634 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study was to reconcile inconsistency of neural engagement underlying action anticipation between experts and nonexperts, as well as between correct and incorrect anticipations. Therefore, we asked novice, intermediate, and skilled baseball batters (N, IB, and SB) to anticipate their swing decisions in response to pitching videos of a strike or ball, using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Behavioral results confirmed the effect of expertise that is generally shown in a linear fashion. Imaging results instead revealed a nonlinear relationship between expertise level and the evoked response amplitude of nodes within the action observation network. The relationship was best captured by an inverted U‐shaped quadratic response profile across the three groups such that IB exhibited higher activation than did both SB and N. These empirical findings extend the framework of predictive coding as well as of neural efficiency in anticipating the action of others, and they might be associated with the underlying process to interpret the goal of the observed action and prepare one's own response. Furthermore, the right anterior cerebellum showed different levels of activation for correct and incorrect anticipations in all groups, adding novel evidence of its subtle involvement in anticipation processes irrespective of expertise status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Hua Chen
- Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yen Chang
- Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Kuei Huang
- Department of Physical Education, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Shing Yen
- Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
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44
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Rauchbauer B, Grosbras MH. Developmental trajectory of interpersonal motor alignment: Positive social effects and link to social cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 118:411-425. [PMID: 32783968 PMCID: PMC7415214 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Interpersonal motor alignment (IMA) has positive effects on healthy social life. IMA - mimicry, synchrony, automatic imitation - is studied throughout development. It relies on motor resonance brain mechanisms identified throughout development. It is modulated by contextual and personal factors. IMA is underinvestigated in adolescence, yet it may aid to enhance resilience.
Interpersonal motor alignment is a ubiquitous behavior in daily social life. It is a building block for higher social cognition, including empathy and mentalizing and promotes positive social effects. It can be observed as mimicry, synchrony and automatic imitation, to name a few. These phenomena rely on motor resonance processes, i.e., a direct link between the perception of an action and its execution. While a considerable literature debates its underlying mechanisms and measurement methods, the question of how motor alignment comes about and changes in ontogeny all the way until adulthood, is rarely discussed specifically. In this review we will focus on the link between interpersonal motor alignment, positive social effects and social cognition in infants, children, and adolescents, demonstrating that this link is present early on in development. Yet, in reviewing the existing literature pertaining to social psychology and developmental social cognitive neuroscience, we identify a knowledge gap regarding the healthy developmental changes in interpersonal motor alignment especially in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Rauchbauer
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives, UMR 7291, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, 13331 Marseille Cedex 3, France; Laboratoire Parole et Langage, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, 5 Avenue Pasteur, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France; Institut de Neuroscience de la Timone, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France.
| | - Marie-Hélène Grosbras
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives, UMR 7291, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, 3 Place Victor-Hugo, 13331 Marseille Cedex 3, France
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45
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Jara-Ettinger J, Schulz LE, Tenenbaum JB. The Naïve Utility Calculus as a unified, quantitative framework for action understanding. Cogn Psychol 2020; 123:101334. [PMID: 32738590 DOI: 10.1016/j.cogpsych.2020.101334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The human ability to reason about the causes behind other people' behavior is critical for navigating the social world. Recent empirical research with both children and adults suggests that this ability is structured around an assumption that other agents act to maximize some notion of subjective utility. In this paper, we present a formal theory of this Naïve Utility Calculus as a probabilistic generative model, which highlights the role of cost and reward tradeoffs in a Bayesian framework for action-understanding. Our model predicts with quantitative accuracy how people infer agents' subjective costs and rewards based on their observable actions. By distinguishing between desires, goals, and intentions, the model extends to complex action scenarios unfolding over space and time in scenes with multiple objects and multiple action episodes. We contrast our account with simpler model variants and a set of special-case heuristics across a wide range of action-understanding tasks: inferring costs and rewards, making confidence judgments about relative costs and rewards, combining inferences from multiple events, predicting future behavior, inferring knowledge or ignorance, and reasoning about social goals. Our work sheds light on the basic representations and computations that structure our everyday ability to make sense of and navigate the social world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Jara-Ettinger
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, United States; Department of Computer Science, Yale University, United States.
| | - Laura E Schulz
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States; Center for Brains, Minds and Machines, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Joshua B Tenenbaum
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States; Center for Brains, Minds and Machines, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
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46
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Yates L, Hobson H. Continuing to look in the mirror: A review of neuroscientific evidence for the broken mirror hypothesis, EP-M model and STORM model of autism spectrum conditions. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 24:1945-1959. [PMID: 32668956 PMCID: PMC7539595 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320936945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The mirror neuron system has been argued to be a key brain system responsible for action understanding and imitation. Subsequently, mirror neuron system dysfunction has therefore been proposed to explain the social deficits manifested within autism spectrum condition, an approach referred to as the broken mirror hypothesis. Despite excitement surrounding this hypothesis, extensive research has produced insufficient evidence to support the broken mirror hypothesis in its pure form, and instead two alternative models have been formulated: EP-M model and the social top-down response modulation (STORM) model. All models suggest some dysfunction regarding the mirror neuron system in autism spectrum condition, be that within the mirror neuron system itself or systems that regulate the mirror neuron system. This literature review compares these three models in regard to recent neuroscientific investigations. This review concludes that there is insufficient support for the broken mirror hypothesis, but converging evidence supports an integrated EP-M and STORM model.
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47
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Simon-Martinez C, Mailleux L, Jaspers E, Ortibus E, Desloovere K, Klingels K, Feys H. Effects of combining constraint-induced movement therapy and action-observation training on upper limb kinematics in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10421. [PMID: 32591590 PMCID: PMC7320002 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67427-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) improves upper limb (UL) motor execution in unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP). As these children also show motor planning deficits, action-observation training (AOT) might be of additional value. Here, we investigated the combined value of AOT to mCIMT on UL kinematics in children with uCP in a randomized controlled trial. Thirty-six children with uCP completed an UL kinematic and clinical evaluation after participating in a 9-day mCIMT camp wearing a splint for 6 h/day. The experimental group (mCIMT + AOT, n = 20) received 15 h of AOT, i.e. video-observation and execution of unimanual tasks. The control group (mCIMT + placebo, n = 16) watched biological-motion free videos and executed the same tasks. We examined changes in motor control (movement duration, peak velocity, time-to-peak velocity, and trajectory straightness) and kinematic movement patterns (using Statistical Parametric Mapping) during the execution of three unimanual, relevant tasks before the intervention, after and at 6 months follow-up. Adding AOT to mCIMT mainly affected movement duration during reaching, whereas little benefit is seen on UL movement patterns. mCIMT, with or without AOT, improved peak velocity and trajectory straightness, and proximal movement patterns. Clinical and kinematic improvements are poorly related. Although there seem to be limited benefits of AOT to CIMT on UL kinematics, our results support the inclusion of kinematics to capture changes in motor control and movement patterns of the proximal joints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Simon-Martinez
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. .,Information Systems Institute, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO Valais), Sierre, Switzerland.
| | - Lisa Mailleux
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Jaspers
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Els Ortibus
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaat Desloovere
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Clinical Motion Analysis Laboratory, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrijn Klingels
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Hilde Feys
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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48
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Abstract
A recent study in which primary motor cortex activity was imaged with sub-laminar resolution has found that, while overt motor actions led to activity in both superficial and deep cortical layers, motor imagery engaged only superficial layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradford Z Mahon
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Neuroscience Institute, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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49
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van Dongen JDM. The Empathic Brain of Psychopaths: From Social Science to Neuroscience in Empathy. Front Psychol 2020; 11:695. [PMID: 32477201 PMCID: PMC7241099 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy is a crucial human ability, because of its importance to prosocial behavior, and for moral development. A deficit in empathic abilities, especially affective empathy, is thought to play an important role in psychopathic personality. Empathic abilities have traditionally been studied within the social and behavioral sciences using behavioral methods, but recent work in neuroscience has begun to elucidate the neural underpinnings of empathic processing in relation to psychopathy. In this review, current knowledge in the social neuroscience of empathy is discussed and a comprehensive view of the neuronal mechanisms that underlie empathy in psychopathic personality is provided. Furthermore, it will be argued that using classification based on overt behavior, we risk failing to identify important mechanisms involved in the psychopathology of psychopathy. In the last decade, there is a growing attention in combining knowledge from (neuro)biological research areas with psychology and psychiatry, to form a new basis for categorizing individuals. Recently, a converging framework has been put forward that applies such approach to antisocial individuals, including psychopathy. In this bio-cognitive approach, it is suggested to use information from different levels, to form latent categories on which individuals are grouped, that may better reflect underlying (neurobiological) dysfunctions. Subsequently, these newly defined latent categories may be more effective in guiding interventions and treatment. In conclusion, in my view, the future understanding of the social brain of psychopaths lies in studying the complex networks in the brain in combination with the use of other levels of information (e.g., genetics and cognition). Based on that, profiles of individuals can be formed that can be used to guide neurophysiological informed personalized treatment interventions that ultimately reduce violent transgressions in individuals with psychopathic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josanne D. M. van Dongen
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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50
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Sensorimotor Expectations Bias Motor Resonance during Observation of Object Lifting: The Causal Role of pSTS. J Neurosci 2020; 40:3995-4009. [PMID: 32284337 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2672-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation studies have highlighted that corticospinal excitability is increased during observation of object lifting, an effect termed "motor resonance." This facilitation is driven by movement features indicative of object weight, such as object size or observed movement kinematics. Here, we investigated in 35 humans (23 females) how motor resonance is altered when the observer's weight expectations, based on visual information, do not match the actual object weight as revealed by the observed movement kinematics. Our results highlight that motor resonance is not robustly driven by object weight but easily masked by a suppressive mechanism reflecting the correctness of weight expectations. Subsequently, we investigated in 24 humans (14 females) whether this suppressive mechanism was driven by higher-order cortical areas. For this, we induced "virtual lesions" to either the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) before having participants perform the task. Importantly, virtual lesion of pSTS eradicated this suppressive mechanism and restored object weight-driven motor resonance. In addition, DLPFC virtual lesion eradicated any modulation of motor resonance. This indicates that motor resonance is heavily mediated by top-down inputs from both pSTS and DLPFC. Together, these findings shed new light on the theorized cortical network driving motor resonance. That is, our findings highlight that motor resonance is not only driven by the putative human mirror neuron network consisting of the primary motor and premotor cortices as well as the anterior intraparietal sulcus, but also by top-down input from pSTS and DLPFC.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Observation of object lifting activates the observer's motor system in a weight-specific fashion: Corticospinal excitability is larger when observing lifts of heavy objects compared with light ones. Interestingly, here we demonstrate that this weight-driven modulation of corticospinal excitability is easily suppressed by the observer's expectations about object weight and that this suppression is mediated by the posterior superior temporal sulcus. Thus, our findings show that modulation of corticospinal excitability during observed object lifting is not robust but easily altered by top-down cognitive processes. Finally, our results also indicate how cortical inputs, originating remotely from motor pathways and processing action observation, overlap with bottom-up motor resonance effects.
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