Previous studies have demonstrated that hand shadows may activate the motor cortex associated with the mirror neuron system in human brain. However, there is no evidence of activity of the human mirror neuron system d...Previous studies have demonstrated that hand shadows may activate the motor cortex associated with the mirror neuron system in human brain. However, there is no evidence of activity of the human mirror neuron system during the observation of intransitive movements by shadows and line drawings of hands. This study examined the suppression of electroencephalography mu waves （8-13 Hz） induced by observation of stimuli in 18 healthy students. Three stimuli were used： real hand actions, hand shadow actions and actions made by line drawings of hands. The results showed significant desynchronization of the mu rhythm （＂mu suppression＂） across the sensodmotor cortex （recorded at C3, Cz and C4）, the frontal cortex （recorded at F3, Fz and F4） and the central and right posterior parietal cortex （recorded at Pz and P4） under all three conditions. Our experimental findings suggest that the observation of ＂impoverished hand actions＂, such as intransitive movements of shadows and line drawings of hands, is able to activate widespread cortical areas related to the putative human mirror neuron system.展开更多
The mirror neuron system （MNS） was first discovered in non-human primates; these neurons fire when a monkey performs an action or observes another monkey （or even some people） performing that same action. Recent f...The mirror neuron system （MNS） was first discovered in non-human primates; these neurons fire when a monkey performs an action or observes another monkey （or even some people） performing that same action. Recent findings have suggested that neural rehabilitation might be achieved through the activation of the MNS in patients after stroke. We propose two major mechanisms （one involving adult neurogenesis and another involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor） that may underlie the activation, modulation and experience-dependent plasticity in the MNS, for further study on promoting central nerve functional reconstruction and rehabilitation of patients with central nervous system injury.展开更多
Primary impairments of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) include impairments in motor skill, motor learning, and imitation. Such difficulties present challenges for individuals with DCD and may persist into ad...Primary impairments of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) include impairments in motor skill, motor learning, and imitation. Such difficulties present challenges for individuals with DCD and may persist into adulthood, negatively impacting daily life in school, work, and social domains. A better understanding of the neural correlates of motor and imitation impairments in DCD holds the potential for informing development of treatment approaches to address these impairments. Although the disorder is assumed to be of neurological origin, little is known of the brain-based etiology of DCD. In recent years the discovery of a fronto-parietal circuit—known as the mirror neuron system—has enabled researchers to better understand imitation, general motor functions, and aspects of social cognition. Given its involvement in imitation and other motor functions, we propose that dysfunction in the mirror neuron system may underlie the characteristic impairments of DCD. We review literature pertaining to the mirror neuron system and develop a theory of disordered mirror neuron functioning in DCD. Finally, we review the limited neuroimaging literature available on neural correlates of DCD and show that the findings from those investigations are congruent with a mirror neuron system theory of DCD. Future research in this population should be designed to investigate specifically mirror neuron regions in individuals with DCD during skilled motor tasks and imitation in particular.展开更多
The present study used electroencephalography to examine mu rhythm suppression （a putative index of human mirror neuron system activation） at frontal sites （F3, Fz and F4）, central sites （C3, Cz and C4）, parieta...The present study used electroencephalography to examine mu rhythm suppression （a putative index of human mirror neuron system activation） at frontal sites （F3, Fz and F4）, central sites （C3, Cz and C4）, parietal sites （P3, Pz and P4） and occipital sites （O1 and O2）, while subjects observed real hand motion （real hand motion condition） and illustrative depictions of hand motion （drawn hand motion condition）. Experimental data revealed that mu rhythm suppression was exhibited in the mirror neuron system when subjects observed both real and drawn hand motion. Moreover, the mu rhythm recorded at the F3, Fz, F4, and Pz poles was significantly suppressed while observing both stimulus types, but no obvious mu suppression occurred at the O1, 02 and 03 poles. These results suggest that the observation of drawings of human hand actions can activate the human mirror neuron system. This evidence supports the hypothesis that the mirror neuron system may be involved in intransitively abstract action understanding.展开更多
The present study observed the effects of the non-invasive, mirror neuron system application on neurorehabilitation. In primate studies, mirror neurons have been shown to fire when the subject observes or performs a s...The present study observed the effects of the non-invasive, mirror neuron system application on neurorehabilitation. In primate studies, mirror neurons have been shown to fire when the subject observes or performs a specific action, thereby allowing for observation of motor cortex activation. This activation of the mirror neuron system could serve as a treatment for stroke patients. In the present study, the combination of a mirror neuron system-based therapy was introduced for the treatment of patients with motor-deficits, who could not perform rehabilitation exercises. The results also indicate that this therapeutic method plays a positive role in emotional regulation in the same patients.展开更多
The mirror neuron system consists of a set of brain areas capable of matching action observation with action execution. One core feature of the mirror neuron system is the activation of motor areas by action observati...The mirror neuron system consists of a set of brain areas capable of matching action observation with action execution. One core feature of the mirror neuron system is the activation of motor areas by action observation alone. This unique capacity of the mirror neuron system to match action perception and action execution stimulated the idea that mirror neuron system plays a crucial role in the understanding of the content of observed actions and may participate in procedural learning. These features bear a high potential for neurorehabilitation of motor deficits and of aphasia following stroke. Since the first articles exploring this principle were published, a growing number of follow-up studies have been conducted in the last decade. Though, the combination of action observation with practice of the observed actions seems to constitute the most powerful approach. In the present review, we present the existing studies analyzing the effects of this neurorehabJlitative approach in clinical settings especially in the rehabilitation of stroke associated motor deficits and give a perspective on the ongoing trials by our research group. The data obtained up to date showed significant positive effect of action observation on recovery of motor functions of the upper limbs even in the chronic state after stroke, indicating that our approach might become a new standardized add-on feature of modern neurorehabilitative treatment schemes.展开更多
基金supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.60775019,60970062 and 61173116the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China,No.201100702110014
文摘Previous studies have demonstrated that hand shadows may activate the motor cortex associated with the mirror neuron system in human brain. However, there is no evidence of activity of the human mirror neuron system during the observation of intransitive movements by shadows and line drawings of hands. This study examined the suppression of electroencephalography mu waves （8-13 Hz） induced by observation of stimuli in 18 healthy students. Three stimuli were used： real hand actions, hand shadow actions and actions made by line drawings of hands. The results showed significant desynchronization of the mu rhythm （＂mu suppression＂） across the sensodmotor cortex （recorded at C3, Cz and C4）, the frontal cortex （recorded at F3, Fz and F4） and the central and right posterior parietal cortex （recorded at Pz and P4） under all three conditions. Our experimental findings suggest that the observation of ＂impoverished hand actions＂, such as intransitive movements of shadows and line drawings of hands, is able to activate widespread cortical areas related to the putative human mirror neuron system.
基金Science Foundation of Ministry of Education of China,No.FBB011469Hangzhou Municipal Natural Science Foundation, No.0737XP39Foundation of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(RGC)
文摘The mirror neuron system （MNS） was first discovered in non-human primates; these neurons fire when a monkey performs an action or observes another monkey （or even some people） performing that same action. Recent findings have suggested that neural rehabilitation might be achieved through the activation of the MNS in patients after stroke. We propose two major mechanisms （one involving adult neurogenesis and another involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor） that may underlie the activation, modulation and experience-dependent plasticity in the MNS, for further study on promoting central nerve functional reconstruction and rehabilitation of patients with central nervous system injury.
文摘Primary impairments of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) include impairments in motor skill, motor learning, and imitation. Such difficulties present challenges for individuals with DCD and may persist into adulthood, negatively impacting daily life in school, work, and social domains. A better understanding of the neural correlates of motor and imitation impairments in DCD holds the potential for informing development of treatment approaches to address these impairments. Although the disorder is assumed to be of neurological origin, little is known of the brain-based etiology of DCD. In recent years the discovery of a fronto-parietal circuit—known as the mirror neuron system—has enabled researchers to better understand imitation, general motor functions, and aspects of social cognition. Given its involvement in imitation and other motor functions, we propose that dysfunction in the mirror neuron system may underlie the characteristic impairments of DCD. We review literature pertaining to the mirror neuron system and develop a theory of disordered mirror neuron functioning in DCD. Finally, we review the limited neuroimaging literature available on neural correlates of DCD and show that the findings from those investigations are congruent with a mirror neuron system theory of DCD. Future research in this population should be designed to investigate specifically mirror neuron regions in individuals with DCD during skilled motor tasks and imitation in particular.
基金the Grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 60775019, 60970062the Shanghai Pujiang Program, No. 09PJ1410200the Project-sponsored by SRF for ROCS, SEM
文摘The present study used electroencephalography to examine mu rhythm suppression （a putative index of human mirror neuron system activation） at frontal sites （F3, Fz and F4）, central sites （C3, Cz and C4）, parietal sites （P3, Pz and P4） and occipital sites （O1 and O2）, while subjects observed real hand motion （real hand motion condition） and illustrative depictions of hand motion （drawn hand motion condition）. Experimental data revealed that mu rhythm suppression was exhibited in the mirror neuron system when subjects observed both real and drawn hand motion. Moreover, the mu rhythm recorded at the F3, Fz, F4, and Pz poles was significantly suppressed while observing both stimulus types, but no obvious mu suppression occurred at the O1, 02 and 03 poles. These results suggest that the observation of drawings of human hand actions can activate the human mirror neuron system. This evidence supports the hypothesis that the mirror neuron system may be involved in intransitively abstract action understanding.
文摘The present study observed the effects of the non-invasive, mirror neuron system application on neurorehabilitation. In primate studies, mirror neurons have been shown to fire when the subject observes or performs a specific action, thereby allowing for observation of motor cortex activation. This activation of the mirror neuron system could serve as a treatment for stroke patients. In the present study, the combination of a mirror neuron system-based therapy was introduced for the treatment of patients with motor-deficits, who could not perform rehabilitation exercises. The results also indicate that this therapeutic method plays a positive role in emotional regulation in the same patients.
文摘The mirror neuron system consists of a set of brain areas capable of matching action observation with action execution. One core feature of the mirror neuron system is the activation of motor areas by action observation alone. This unique capacity of the mirror neuron system to match action perception and action execution stimulated the idea that mirror neuron system plays a crucial role in the understanding of the content of observed actions and may participate in procedural learning. These features bear a high potential for neurorehabilitation of motor deficits and of aphasia following stroke. Since the first articles exploring this principle were published, a growing number of follow-up studies have been conducted in the last decade. Though, the combination of action observation with practice of the observed actions seems to constitute the most powerful approach. In the present review, we present the existing studies analyzing the effects of this neurorehabJlitative approach in clinical settings especially in the rehabilitation of stroke associated motor deficits and give a perspective on the ongoing trials by our research group. The data obtained up to date showed significant positive effect of action observation on recovery of motor functions of the upper limbs even in the chronic state after stroke, indicating that our approach might become a new standardized add-on feature of modern neurorehabilitative treatment schemes.
