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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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Ahtam B, Turesky TK, Zöllei L, Standish J, Grant PE, Gaab N, Im K. Intergenerational Transmission of Cortical Sulcal Patterns from Mothers to their Children. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:1888-1897. [PMID: 33230560 PMCID: PMC7945013 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Intergenerational effects are described as the genetic, epigenetic, as well as pre- and postnatal environmental influence parents have on their offspring's behavior, cognition, and brain. During fetal brain development, the primary cortical sulci emerge with a distinctive folding pattern that are under strong genetic influence and show little change of this pattern throughout postnatal brain development. We examined intergenerational transmission of cortical sulcal patterns by comparing primary sulcal patterns between children (N = 16, age 5.5 ± 0.81 years, 8 males) and their biological mothers (N = 15, age 39.72 ± 4.68 years) as well as between children and unrelated adult females. Our graph-based sulcal pattern comparison method detected stronger sulcal pattern similarity for child-mother pairs than child-unrelated pairs, where higher similarity between child-mother pairs was observed mostly for the right lobar regions. Our results also show that child-mother versus child-unrelated pairs differ for daughters and sons with a trend toward significance, particularly for the left hemisphere lobar regions. This is the first study to reveal significant intergenerational transmission of cortical sulcal patterns, and our results have important implications for the study of the heritability of complex behaviors, brain-based disorders, the identification of biomarkers, and targets for interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banu Ahtam
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ted K Turesky
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lilla Zöllei
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Julianna Standish
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - P Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kiho Im
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Farina E, Borgnis F, Pozzo T. Mirror neurons and their relationship with neurodegenerative disorders. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:1070-1094. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thierry Pozzo
- INSERM UMR1093‐CAPS, Université Bourgogne Franche‐Comté Dijon France
- IT@UniFe Center for Translational Neurophysiology Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Ferrara Italy
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Barry EF, Vanes LD, Andrews DS, Patel K, Horne CM, Mouchlianitis E, Hellyer PJ, Shergill SS. Mapping cortical surface features in treatment resistant schizophrenia with in vivo structural MRI. Psychiatry Res 2019; 274:335-344. [PMID: 30851596 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Decreases in cortical volume (CV), thickness (CT) and surface area (SA) have been reported in individuals with schizophrenia by in vivo MRI studies. However, there are few studies that examine these cortical measures as potential biomarkers of treatment resistance (TR) and treatment response (NTR) in schizophrenia. This study used structural MRI to examine differences in CV, CT, and SA in 42 adults with schizophrenia (TR = 21, NTR = 21) and 23 healthy controls (HC) to test the hypothesis that individuals with TR schizophrenia have significantly greater reductions in these cortical measures compared to individuals with NTR schizophrenia. We found that individuals with TR schizophrenia showed significant reductions in CV and CT compared to individuals with NTR schizophrenia in right frontal and precentral regions, right parietal and occipital cortex, left temporal cortex and bilateral cingulate cortex. In line with previous literature, the temporal lobe and cingulate gyrus in both patient groups showed significant reductions of all three measures when compared to healthy controls. Taken together these results suggest that regional changes in CV and CT may index mechanisms specific to TR schizophrenia and potentially identify patients with TR schizophrenia for earlier treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica F Barry
- Cognition Schizophrenia and Imaging Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Lucy D Vanes
- Cognition Schizophrenia and Imaging Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Derek S Andrews
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Krisna Patel
- Cognition Schizophrenia and Imaging Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Charlotte M Horne
- Cognition Schizophrenia and Imaging Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK.
| | - Elias Mouchlianitis
- Cognition Schizophrenia and Imaging Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Peter J Hellyer
- Cognition Schizophrenia and Imaging Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Sukhi S Shergill
- Cognition Schizophrenia and Imaging Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
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Early motor resonance differentiates schizophrenia patients from healthy subjects and predicts social cognition performance. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 247:353-374. [PMID: 31196441 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diminished motor resonance (facilitation of motor potentials during action observation) is possibly related to social cognition deficits in schizophrenia. Adequate social cognition requires the successful moment-to-moment appraisal of social stimuli over a temporal window. However, similar changes in motor resonance with successive action observation stimuli are unknown. We compared the time-course of motor resonance evoked during successive action observation stimuli between schizophrenia patients (antipsychotic-naïve and medicated) and healthy subjects and examined its association with social cognition performance. METHOD Fifty-four schizophrenia patients (33 antipsychotic-naive) and 45 healthy subjects underwent 10-recordings (T1 to T10) of cortical reactivity, using two single (sp)- and two paired-pulse (pp) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigms, while they observed goal-directed actions and a static image. They also underwent comprehensive social cognition assessments. RESULTS Sp-motor resonance revealed a significant quadratic time effect (initial fall and then rise) in patients and healthy subjects [F=12.21, P=0.001]. Such a pattern was not observed for pp-motor resonance. We categorized motor resonance as early (T1-T3), middle (T4-T7) and late (T8-T10) based on pair-wise comparisons. Early, but not middle or late sp-motor resonance was reduced in antipsychotic naïve patients compared to the medicated patients and healthy subjects (F=3.41, P=0.037). Social cognition composite score had significant correlations with both early sp-motor resonance (r=0.34, P=0.01) and early pp-motor resonance (r=0.314, P=0.02) in the combined patient group. CONCLUSIONS Motor resonance time-courses did not vary across groups. The magnitude of early motor resonance was reduced in the antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia group, compared to healthy subjects. Early phase motor resonance was associated with social cognition deficits in patients.
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Bagewadi VI, Mehta UM, Naik SS, Govindaraj R, Varambally S, Arumugham SS, Naveen Kumar C, Thirthalli J. Diminished modulation of motor cortical reactivity during context-based action observation in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2019; 204:222-229. [PMID: 30093350 PMCID: PMC7610505 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.07.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficient mirror neuron system (MNS)-activity is associated with social cognition deficits in schizophrenia. However, it is not known how socio-emotional contexts modulate the MNS-response. In a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)-experiment, we aimed to compare putative MNS-responses to action observation stimuli with and without a context, in patients with schizophrenia and healthy subjects. METHOD TMS-evoked motor cortical reactivity was measured by single and paired [short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and facilitation (ICF)] pulse-paradigms in schizophrenia patients (n = 39) and healthy subjects (n = 28) while they observed three experimental-blocks: a static image, a neutral hand action (NA) and a context-based hand action (CA). The degree of cortical reactivity facilitation with the two action observation blocks, relative to the static block provided indirect measures of premotor MNS-activity. A subset of patients (n = 31) also underwent comprehensive social cognition assessments. RESULTS RMANOVA demonstrated significantly higher cortical reactivity during the CA-block in both groups (all TMS-paradigms); albeit significantly less pronounced in patients (SICI and ICF paradigms). MNS-activity during the CA-block was significantly higher compared to that during the NA-block in both groups (all TMS-paradigms), but significantly less pronounced in patients (SICI and single-pulse paradigms). MNS-activity during the CA-block measured by the ICF paradigm was positively correlated with social cognition performance. CONCLUSION Providing a context to the action modulates MNS-activity. This modulation is diminished in schizophrenia patients, suggestive of a diminished sensorimotor associative learning process. This novel, ecologically valid paradigm to tap into the MNS may serve as a neuro-marker of social cognition performance in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
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Eddy CM. Social cognition and self-other distinctions in neuropsychiatry: Insights from schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 82:69-85. [PMID: 29195921 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Impairments in social cognition may reflect dysfunction of disorder specific or disorder general mechanisms. Although cross-disorder comparison may prove insightful, few studies have compared social cognition in different neuropsychiatric disorders. Parallel investigation of schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome (TS) is encouraged by similarities including the presence of problematic social behavior, echophenomena, emotional dysregulation and dopamine dysfunction. Focusing on tests of social cognition administered in both disorders, this review aims to summarize behavioral, neurophysiological and neuroimaging findings, before exploring how these may contribute to clinical symptoms. Studies investigating social cognition (imitation, emotion recognition, and understanding of beliefs or intentions) in patients with schizophrenia or TS were identified through Web of Science and PubMed searches. Although findings indicate that social cognitive deficits are more apparent in schizophrenia, adults with TS can exhibit similar task performance to patients with paranoia. In both disorders, behavioral and neuroimaging findings raise the possibility of increased internal simulation of others' actions and emotions, in combination with a relative under-application of mentalizing. More specifically, dysfunction in neurobiological substrates such as temporo-parietal junction and inferior frontal gyrus may underlie problems with self-other distinctions in both schizophrenia and TS. Difficulties in distinguishing between actions and mental states linked to the self and other may contribute to a range of psychiatric symptoms, including emotional dysregulation, paranoia, social anhedonia and socially disruptive urges. Comparing different patient populations could therefore reveal common neuro-cognitive risk factors for the development of problematic social behaviors, in addition to markers of resilience, coping strategies and potential neuro-compensation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M Eddy
- BSMHFT National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham, and College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
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8
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Comparing mirror neuron system activity between sporadic and familial cases of schizophrenia. Asian J Psychiatr 2016; 21:17-8. [PMID: 27208448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2015.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a heterogenous disorder, and has often been subtyped on the basis of family history of psychotic disorders. Compared to those without, a positive family history is associated with an earlier age of onset, greater structural brain abnormalities and poorer clinical course. Given recent emphasis on mirror neuron system (MNS) in attempting to explain psychopathology in schizophrenia; present analysis tried to tease out differences in MNS functioning between these two groups. With ethical approval, 10 consenting right-handed patients with schizophrenia (ICD-10-DCR; M=8; Drug-naïve=2) were recruited and divided into two groups of five each (M=4, F=1): those with (age 29.40±5.85 years, duration of illness 50.80±30.84 months) and without (age 29.60±5.77 years, duration of illness 43.20±43.76 months) family history of schizophrenic illness (group difference p>0.05). MNS activity was assessed using event-related desynchronization of EEG Mu waves in response to biological motion on 192-channel EEG Neurofax EEG-1100K. On comparison, while patients had significantly lower mu suppression compared to controls (p<0.001); two schizophrenia groups did not differ between themselves, neither on MNS activity nor on psychopathology (p>0.05). Present study replicates finding of a dysfunctional MNS in schizophrenia patients, and represents a preliminary attempt at comparing two groups of symptomatic schizophrenia patients. In both these groups, MNS dysfunctions were comparable, and commensurate with respect to psychopathology. Thus, MNS dysfunction in schizophrenia might either be inherited or acquired. However, this abnormality forms a common base, and ultimate vulnerability marker, for development of psychopathology during active disease states.
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Mehta UM, Waghmare AV, Thirthalli J, Venkatasubramanian G, Gangadhar BN. Is the human mirror neuron system plastic? Evidence from a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Asian J Psychiatr 2015; 17:71-7. [PMID: 26194133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Virtual lesions in the mirror neuron network using inhibitory low-frequency (1Hz) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been employed to understand its spatio-functional properties. However, no studies have examined the influence of neuro-enhancement by using excitatory high-frequency (20Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) on these networks. We used three forms of TMS stimulation (HF-rTMS, single and paired pulse) to investigate whether the mirror neuron system facilitates the motor system during goal-directed action observation relative to inanimate motion (motor resonance), a marker of putative mirror neuron activity. 31 healthy individuals were randomized to receive single-sessions of true or sham HF-rTMS delivered to the left inferior frontal gyrus - a component of the human mirror system. Motor resonance was assessed before and after HF-rTMS using three TMS cortical reactivity paradigms: (a) 120% of resting motor threshold (RMT), (b) stimulus intensity set to evoke motor evoked potential of 1-millivolt amplitude (SI1mV) and (c) a short latency paired pulse paradigm. Two-way RMANOVA showed a significant group (true versus sham) X occasion (pre- and post-HF-rTMS motor resonance) interaction effect for SI1mV [F(df)=6.26 (1, 29), p=0.018] and 120% RMT stimuli [F(df)=7.01 (1, 29), p=0.013] indicating greater enhancement of motor resonance in the true HF-rTMS group than the sham-group. This suggests that HF-rTMS could adaptively modulate properties of the mirror neuron system. This neuro-enhancement effect is a preliminary step that can open translational avenues for novel brain stimulation therapeutics targeting social-cognition deficits in schizophrenia and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India.
| | - Avinash V Waghmare
- Department of Psychiatry, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and Genral Hospital, Pune 411041, India
| | - Jagadisha Thirthalli
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Bangalore N Gangadhar
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore 560029, India
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Cao R, Ye X, Chen X, Zhang L, Chen X, Tian Y, Hu P, Wang K. Exploring Biological Motion Processing in Parkinson's Disease Using Temporal Dilation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138502. [PMID: 26381888 PMCID: PMC4575113 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological motion (BM) perception is the compelling ability of the visual system to perceive complex animated movements effortlessly and promptly. A recent study has shown that BM can automatically lengthen perceived temporal duration independent of global configuration. The present study aimed mainly to investigate this temporal dilation effect of BM signals in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. We used the temporal dilation effect as an implicit measure of visual processing of BM. In all, 32 PD patients (under off-therapy conditions) and 32 healthy controls (HCs) participated in our study. In each trial, an upright BM sequence and an inverted BM sequence were presented within an interval in the center of the screen. We tested both canonical and scrambled BM sequences; the scrambled ones were generated by disturbing the global configuration of the canonical ones but preserving exactly the same local motion components. Observers were required to make a verbal two-alternative forced choice response to indicate which interval (the first or the second) appeared longer. Statistical analyses were conducted on the points of subjective equality (PSEs). We found that the temporal dilation effect was significantly reduced for PD patients compared with HCs in both canonical and scrambled BM conditions. Moreover, no temporal dilation effects of scrambled BM were shown in both early- and late-stage PD patients, while the temporal dilation effect of canonical BM was relatively preserved in the early stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Cao
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xing Ye
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xingui Chen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xianwen Chen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yanghua Tian
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Panpan Hu
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
- * E-mail: (KW); (PH)
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
- * E-mail: (KW); (PH)
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Abstract
Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit impaired social cognition, which manifests as difficulties in identifying emotions, feeing connected to others, inferring people's thoughts and reacting emotionally to others. These social cognitive impairments interfere with social connections and are strong determinants of the degree of impaired daily functioning in such individuals. Here, we review recent findings from the fields of social cognition and social neuroscience and identify the social processes that are impaired in schizophrenia. We also consider empathy as an example of a complex social cognitive function that integrates several social processes and is impaired in schizophrenia. This information may guide interventions to improve social cognition in patients with this disorder.
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Brown EC, Gonzalez-Liencres C, Tas C, Brüne M. Reward modulates the mirror neuron system in schizophrenia: A study into the mu rhythm suppression, empathy, and mental state attribution. Soc Neurosci 2015; 11:175-86. [DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2015.1053982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Keshavan MS, Mehta UM, Padmanabhan JL, Shah JL. Dysplasticity, metaplasticity, and schizophrenia: Implications for risk, illness, and novel interventions. Dev Psychopathol 2015; 27:615-35. [PMID: 25997775 PMCID: PMC6283269 DOI: 10.1017/s095457941500019x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we review the history of the concept of neuroplasticity as it relates to the understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders, using schizophrenia as a case in point. We briefly review the myriad meanings of the term neuroplasticity, and its neuroscientific basis. We then review the evidence for aberrant neuroplasticity and metaplasticity associated with schizophrenia as well as the risk for developing this illness, and discuss the implications of such understanding for prevention and therapeutic interventions. We argue that the failure and/or altered timing of plasticity of critical brain circuits might underlie cognitive and deficit symptoms, and may also lead to aberrant plastic reorganization in other circuits, leading to affective dysregulation and eventually psychosis. This "dysplastic" model of schizophrenia can suggest testable etiology and treatment-relevant questions for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matcheri S. Keshavan
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Jaya L. Padmanabhan
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Jai L. Shah
- Douglas Hospital Research Center and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Mitra S, Haque Nizamie S, Goyal N, Tikka SK. Event related desynchronisation of mu-wave over right sensorimotor cortex at baseline may predict subsequent response to antipsychotics in Schizophrenia. Asian J Psychiatr 2015; 14:19-21. [PMID: 25707299 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2015.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Mirror neuron system (MNS) has been demonstrated to be defective in patients with schizophrenia. This paper report findings from a high resolution (192-channel) EEG study conducted on 15 drug free/naïve consenting schizophrenia patients, in which the specific role of right hemispheric MNS has been explored over 4 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. The authors used mu wave suppression paradigm, and found that baseline right MNS mu suppression correlated negatively with and predicted relative improvement in thought disturbance cluster score of PANSS during first 4 weeks of drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayantanava Mitra
- Department of Psychiatry, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282002, India.
| | - S Haque Nizamie
- Department of Psychiatry and K.S. Mani Centre for Cognitive Neurosciences, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, Jharkhand 834006, India
| | - Nishant Goyal
- Department of Psychiatry and K.S. Mani Centre for Cognitive Neurosciences, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand 834006, India
| | - Sai Krishna Tikka
- K.S Mani Centre for Cognitive Neurosciences, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, Jharkhand 834006, India
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15
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Basavaraju R, Mehta UM, Thirthalli J, Gangadhar BN. Mirror neuron dysfunction and ego-boundary disturbances in schizophrenia: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Indian J Psychol Med 2015; 37:58-65. [PMID: 25722514 PMCID: PMC4341313 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7176.150821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ego-boundary disturbance (EBD) is a unique symptom cluster characterized by passivity experiences (involving thoughts, actions, emotions and sensations) attributed by patients to some external agency. The neurobiology of these "first rank" symptoms is poorly understood. Aberrant mirror neuron activation may explain impaired self-monitoring and agency attribution underlying these symptoms. We aim to study mirror neuron activity (MNA) in schizophrenia patients with and without EBD using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). MATERIALS AND METHODS 50 right-handed schizophrenia patients (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) were evaluated using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. They completed a TMS experiment to assess putative premotor MNA. Motor evoked potential (MEP) was recorded in the right first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) with (a) 120% of resting motor threshold (RMT), (b) stimulus intensity set to evoke MEP of motor threshold 1 mV amplitude (MT1), (c) two paired pulse paradigms (short- and long interval intra-cortical inhibition). These were done in three states: Actual observation of an action using the FDI, virtual-observation (video) of this action and resting state. The percent change of MEP from resting to action-observation states formed the measure of putative MNA. RESULTS MNA measured using MT1 and 120% RMT paradigms was significantly lower in the 18 patients with EBD (thought-broadcast/withdrawal/insertion, made-act/impulse/affect and somatic passivity) than the 32 patients without EBD (t = 2.431, P = 0.020; t = 2.051, P = 0.04 respectively for the two paradigms). The two groups did not differ on age, gender, education and total symptom scores. CONCLUSION Schizophrenia patients with EBD have lower premotor MNA. This highlights the role of MNA dysfunction in the pathophysiology of this unique and intriguing symptom cluster in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakshathi Basavaraju
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Jagadisha Thirthalli
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Bangalore N Gangadhar
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Mirror neuron dysfunction in schizophrenia and its functional implications: a systematic review. Schizophr Res 2014; 160:9-19. [PMID: 25468183 PMCID: PMC6284797 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Dysfunctional mirror neuron activity (MNA) has been posited to underlie diverse symptoms of schizophrenia (e.g., ego-boundary disturbances, negative symptoms, social cognition impairments and catatonic symptoms). In this paper, we systematically review studies that have empirically compared putative MNA in schizophrenia patients and healthy subjects using different neurophysiological probes. Majority of the studies (n=9) reported reduced MNA in patients. Two each reported either increased MNA or mixed (both increased and decreased) results, while only one study reported normal findings. Reduced MNA was associated with greater negative symptoms and theory of mind deficits. The neurophysiological technique, task paradigms used, specific brain regions studied and laterality did not influence these findings. Further, we propose an overarching model to understand the heterogeneous symptom dimensions of schizophrenia, in which an inherent mirror system deficit underlying persistent negative symptoms, social cognition impairments and self-monitoring deficits triggers a pathological metaplastic reorganization of this system resulting in aberrant excessive MNA and the phasic catatonic symptoms, affective instability and hallucinations. Despite being preliminary in nature, evidence of abnormal MNA in schizophrenia reported necessitates more detailed investigation. Future research directions of using this model within the Research Domain Criteria framework of the National Institute of Mental Health are discussed.
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A critical review and meta-analysis of the perceptual pseudoneglect across psychiatric disorders: Is there a continuum? Cogn Process 2014; 16:17-25. [DOI: 10.1007/s10339-014-0640-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Unchanging mirror neuron activity in schizophrenia patients over 4 weeks of treatment: evidence from a 192 channel quantitative electroencephalography study. Biol Psychiatry 2014; 76:e13-4. [PMID: 24503469 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Mehta UM, Thirthalli J, Basavaraju R, Gangadhar BN, Pascual-Leone A. Reduced mirror neuron activity in schizophrenia and its association with theory of mind deficits: evidence from a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Schizophr Bull 2014; 40:1083-94. [PMID: 24214933 PMCID: PMC4133670 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbt155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The "mirror-neuron system" has been proposed to be a neurophysiological substrate for social cognition (SC) ability. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigms to compare putative mirror neuron activity (MNA) in 3 groups: antipsychotic-naive, medicated schizophrenia patients, and healthy comparison subjects. We also explored the association between MNA and SC ability in patients. METHODS Fifty-four consenting right-handed schizophrenia patients (33 antipsychotic naive) and 45 matched healthy comparison subjects completed a TMS experiment to assess putative premotor MNA. We used 4 TMS paradigms of eliciting motor-evoked potentials (MEP) in the right first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle. These were applied while the subjects observed a goal-directed action involving the FDI (actual action and its video) and a static image. The difference in the amplitude of the MEP while they observed the static image and the action provided a measure of MNA. Subjects also underwent SC assessments (theory of mind [ToM], emotion processing, and social perception). RESULTS Two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant group × occasion interaction effect in 3 TMS paradigms, indicating deficient motor facilitation during action observation relative to rest state in antipsychotic-naive schizophrenia patients as compared with the other two groups. Among patients, there were significant direct correlations between measures of MNA and ToM performance. CONCLUSIONS Antipsychotic-naive schizophrenia patients have poorer MNA than medicated patients and healthy controls. Measures of putative MNA had significant and consistent associations with ToM abilities. These findings suggest a possibility of deficient mirror neuron system underlying SC deficits in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India;
| | - Jagadisha Thirthalli
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rakshathi Basavaraju
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Bangalore N. Gangadhar
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Department of Neurology, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
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Mitra S, Nizamie SH, Goyal N, Tikka SK. Mu-wave Activity in Schizophrenia: Evidence of a Dysfunctional Mirror Neuron System from an Indian Study. Indian J Psychol Med 2014; 36:276-81. [PMID: 25035551 PMCID: PMC4100413 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7176.135380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 'mirror-neuron system' is thought to play an important role in automatic decoding of biological motions and interpretation of socially adaptive environmental stimuli. Accordingly, a dysfunction in this system in schizophrenia has been hypothesised to mediate the psychotic manifestations. MATERIALS AND METHODS As a part of an ongoing study, we evaluated the mirror neuron system using 'EEG mu-wave (8-13 Hz) suppression' paradigm in 15 drug naïve/drug free patients and compared the working to 15 age, sex and education matched controls. We also correlated the psychopathology scores on PANSS with the mu wave suppression in the schizophrenia patients, at baseline. We used high (192-channel) resolution EEG to record the mu rhythm while the subjects watched alternating sequences of a socially-relevant biological motion and white visual-noise on a custom made video-clip. RESULTS We found a significant difference in the degree of mu wave suppression between the two groups. We also found that the degree of mu suppression over right sensorimotor cortex at presentation correlated significantly and negatively with thought disorder in the patient group, and had a strong linear relationship. CONCLUSION This study replicates past findings regarding a dysfunctional mirror neuron system in schizophrenia patients, and also emphasizes the role of rMNS in schizophrenic thought disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayantanava Mitra
- Department of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - S Haque Nizamie
- K.S. Mani Centre for Cognitive Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Nishant Goyal
- Department of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Sai Krishna Tikka
- K.S. Mani Centre for Cognitive Neurosciences and Department of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
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Horan WP, Iacoboni M, Cross KA, Korb A, Lee J, Nori P, Quintana J, Wynn JK, Green MF. Self-reported empathy and neural activity during action imitation and observation in schizophrenia. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2014; 5:100-8. [PMID: 25009771 PMCID: PMC4087183 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Revised: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Although social cognitive impairments are key determinants of functional outcome in schizophrenia their neural bases are poorly understood. This study investigated neural activity during imitation and observation of finger movements and facial expressions in schizophrenia, and their correlates with self-reported empathy. Methods 23 schizophrenia outpatients and 23 healthy controls were studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they imitated, executed, or simply observed finger movements and facial emotional expressions. Between-group activation differences, as well as relationships between activation and self-reported empathy, were evaluated. Results Both patients and controls similarly activated neural systems previously associated with these tasks. We found no significant between-group differences in task-related activations. There were, however, between-group differences in the correlation between self-reported empathy and right inferior frontal (pars opercularis) activity during observation of facial emotional expressions. As in previous studies, controls demonstrated a positive association between brain activity and empathy scores. In contrast, the pattern in the patient group reflected a negative association between brain activity and empathy. Conclusions Although patients with schizophrenia demonstrated largely normal patterns of neural activation across the finger movement and facial expression tasks, they reported decreased self perceived empathy and failed to show the typical relationship between neural activity and self-reported empathy seen in controls. These findings suggest that patients show a disjunction between automatic neural responses to low level social cues and higher level, integrative social cognitive processes involved in self-perceived empathy. Comparable activation patterns were present in both groups for finger and facial stimuli. There were no group differences on any of the activation tasks. Self-reported empathy differentially related to neural activation in the two groups. Empathy related to right inferior frontal activity in controls but not in patients. Patients showed a disconnect between low- and high-level social cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William P. Horan
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Corresponding author at: University of California, Los Angeles & VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, MIRECC 210A, Bldg. 210, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA. Tel.: + 1 310 478 3711x44041; fax: + 1 310 268 4056.
| | | | | | - Alex Korb
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Junghee Lee
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Poorang Nori
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Javier Quintana
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Wynn
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Michael F. Green
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
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Ferri F, Costantini M, Salone A, Ebisch S, De Berardis D, Mazzola V, Arciero G, Ferro FM, Di Giannantonio M, Romani GL, Gallese V. Binding action and emotion in first-episode schizophrenia. Psychopathology 2014; 47:394-407. [PMID: 25277690 DOI: 10.1159/000366133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Several components of social cognition are compromised in schizophrenia (SCZ) from the early stage of the illness. In this study we first investigated whether mirror neuron-driven embodied simulation (mnES) is altered in first-episode SCZ. Second, we tested whether emotional cues impact on the mnES in SCZ patients. METHODS Twenty-two SCZ patients and 22 healthy controls (HCs) observed goal-related actions in either a neutral or emotional context during functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. RESULTS Observation of neutral action elicited a lower activity in the frontoparietal network in SCZ patients, as compared to HCs. Particularly, activation in the left inferior parietal lobule in response to the same condition negatively correlated with patients' self-experience disturbances. Moreover, observation of an action performed by an angry agent produced poorer neural activity in the right anterior insula in SCZ patients as compared to HCs. This difference was mostly due to the negative β-values shown by SCZ patients, which positively correlated with their empathy scores. No differences were found contingent upon the observation of an action performed by a happy agent. CONCLUSION Our results show that emotional cues allow SCZ patients to partially recover mnES. However, their understanding of the emotional components of the actions of others will likely remain deficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ferri
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ont., Canada
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Ribolsi M, Lisi G, Di Lorenzo G, Rociola G, Niolu C, Siracusano A. Negative correlation between leftward bias in line bisection and schizotypal features in healthy subjects. Front Psychol 2013; 4:846. [PMID: 24294208 PMCID: PMC3827540 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Recent studies have found a lack of normal pseudoneglect in schizophrenia patients and in their first degree relatives. Similarly, several contributions have reported that measures of schizotypy in the healthy population may be related to signs of right-sided lateralization, but most of these studies differ greatly in methodology (sample size, choice of schizotypy scales, and laterality tasks) and, consequently, the results cannot be compared and so definitive conclusion cannot be drawn. In this study, our purpose is to investigate whether some tasks of spatial attention may be related to different dimensions of schizotypy not only in a larger sample of healthy subjects (HS), but testing the same people with several supposedly related measures several times. Materials and Methods: In the first part of the study (Part I), the performance on “paper and pencil” line bisection (LB) tasks in 205 HS was investigated. Each task was repeated three times. In the second part of the study (Part II), a subgroup of 80 subjects performed a computerized version of the LB test and of the mental number line bisection (MNL) test. In both parts of the study, every subject completed the 74-item version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI). Results: In both parts of the study, high scores on the subscale “magical thinking” of SPQ have resulted in being closely linked to a decreased pseudoneglect as assessed by the LB task. On the contrary, right handedness is related to an increased leftward bias at the same task. No association was found between MNL and the other variables. Discussion: The main finding of this study is that a decreased spatial leftward bias at the LB task correlates with positive schizotypy in the healthy population. This finding supports the hypothesis that a deviation from leftward hemispatial visual preference may be related to the degree of psychosis-like schizotypal signs in non-clinical population and should be investigated as a possible marker of psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Ribolsi
- Clinica Psichiatrica, Dipartimento di Medicina dei Sistemi, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata Rome, Italy
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Zhao W, Luo L, Li Q, Kendrick KM. What Can Psychiatric Disorders Tell Us about Neural Processing of the Self? Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:485. [PMID: 23966936 PMCID: PMC3744079 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Many psychiatric disorders are associated with abnormal self-processing. While these disorders also have a wide-range of complex, and often heterogeneous sets of symptoms involving different cognitive, emotional, and motor domains, an impaired sense of self can contribute to many of these. Research investigating self-processing in healthy subjects has facilitated identification of changes in specific neural circuits which may cause altered self-processing in psychiatric disorders. While there is evidence for altered self-processing in many psychiatric disorders, here we will focus on four of the most studied ones, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), major depression, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). We review evidence for dysfunction in two different neural systems implicated in self-processing, namely the cortical midline system (CMS) and the mirror neuron system (MNS), as well as contributions from altered inter-hemispheric connectivity (IHC). We conclude that while abnormalities in frontal-parietal activity and/or connectivity in the CMS are common to all four disorders there is more disruption of integration between frontal and parietal regions resulting in a shift toward parietal control in schizophrenia and ASD which may contribute to the greater severity and delusional aspects of their symptoms. Abnormalities in the MNS and in IHC are also particularly evident in schizophrenia and ASD and may lead to disturbances in sense of agency and the physical self in these two disorders. A better future understanding of how changes in the neural systems sub-serving self-processing contribute to different aspects of symptom abnormality in psychiatric disorders will require that more studies carry out detailed individual assessments of altered self-processing in conjunction with measurements of neural functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China , Chengdu , China
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25
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Mathon B. [Mirror neurons: from anatomy to pathophysiological and therapeutic implications]. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2013; 169:285-90. [PMID: 23395409 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2012.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2012] [Revised: 09/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mirror neurons are a special class of neurons discovered in the 1990s. They respond when we perform an action and also when we see someone else perform that action. They play a role in the pathophysiology of some neuropsychiatric diseases. STATE OF ART Mirror neurons have been identified in humans: in Broca's area and the inferior parietal cortex. Their responses are qualitative and selective depending on the observed action. Emotions (including disgust) and empathy seem to operate according to a mirror mechanism. Indeed, the mirror system allows us to encode the sensory experience and to simulate the emotional state of others. This results in our improved identification of the emotions in others. Additionally, mirror neurons can encode an observed action in motor stimuli and allow its reproduction; thus, they are involved in imitation and learning. PERSPECTIVES Current studies are assessing the role of mirror neurons in the pathopysiology of social-behavior disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Understanding this mirror system will allow us to develop psychotherapy practices based on empathic resonance between the patient and the therapist. Also, some authors report that a passive rehabilitation technique, based on stimulation of the mirror-neuron system, has a beneficial effect in the treatment of patients with post-stroke motor deficits. CONCLUSIONS Mirror neurons are an anatomical entity that enables improved understanding of behavior and emotions, and serves as a base for developing new cognitive therapies. Additional studies are needed to clarify the exact role of this neuronal system in social cognition and its role in the development of some neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Mathon
- Service de neurochirurgie, groupe hospitalier universitaire La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
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Mazzone L, Ruta L, Reale L. Psychiatric comorbidities in asperger syndrome and high functioning autism: diagnostic challenges. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2012; 11:16. [PMID: 22731684 PMCID: PMC3416662 DOI: 10.1186/1744-859x-11-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 05/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Several psychiatric conditions, both internalizing and externalizing, have been documented in comorbidity with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA). In this review we examine the interplay between psychiatric comorbidities and AS/HFA. In particular, we will focus our attention on three main issues. First, we examine which psychiatric disorders are more frequently associated with AS/HFA. Second, we review which diagnostic tools are currently available for clinicians to investigate and diagnose the associated psychiatric disorders in individuals with AS/HFA. Third, we discuss the challenges that clinicians and researchers face in trying to determine whether the psychiatric symptoms are phenotypic manifestations of AS/HFA or rather they are the expression of a distinct, though comorbid, disorder. We will also consider the role played by the environment in the manifestation and interpretation of these symptoms. Finally, we will propose some strategies to try to address these issues, and we will discuss therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Mazzone
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, I,R,C,C,S, Children's Hospital, Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
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