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 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 method for rapidly, precisely and non-invasively localizing functional regions of the brain is a problem in neuromedicine research. Cortical electrostimulation is the optimal localization method during brain surge...The method for rapidly, precisely and non-invasively localizing functional regions of the brain is a problem in neuromedicine research. Cortical electrostimulation is the optimal localization method during brain surgery, with a degree of accuracy of approximately 5 mm. However, electrostimulation can damage the cerebral cortex, trigger epilepsy, and extend the operation time. Studies are required to determine whether cortical motor regions can be localized by wavelet analysis from electrocorticograms. In this study, based on wavelet analysis of electrocorticograms, a selection of algorithms for classification of the mu rhythm in the motor regions utilizing experimental data was verified. Results demonstrated that a characteristic quantity of energy ratio in the reconstructed signal was filtered in the d6 （7.81-15.62 Hz） band prior to and following motion events. A characteristic threshold was considered to be 40%. The accuracy of localization detection was 93%. The degree of accuracy was less than 5 mm. The present study avoided the problems of cerebral cortex injury and epilepsy onset, with an operation time of 60 seconds. Therefore, wavelet analysis on electrocorticogram is feasible for localizing cortical motor regions. Furthermore, this localization technique is accurate, safe and rapid.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 method for rapidly, precisely and non-invasively localizing functional regions of the brain is a problem in neuromedicine research. Cortical electrostimulation is the optimal localization method during brain surgery, with a degree of accuracy of approximately 5 mm. However, electrostimulation can damage the cerebral cortex, trigger epilepsy, and extend the operation time. Studies are required to determine whether cortical motor regions can be localized by wavelet analysis from electrocorticograms. In this study, based on wavelet analysis of electrocorticograms, a selection of algorithms for classification of the mu rhythm in the motor regions utilizing experimental data was verified. Results demonstrated that a characteristic quantity of energy ratio in the reconstructed signal was filtered in the d6 （7.81-15.62 Hz） band prior to and following motion events. A characteristic threshold was considered to be 40%. The accuracy of localization detection was 93%. The degree of accuracy was less than 5 mm. The present study avoided the problems of cerebral cortex injury and epilepsy onset, with an operation time of 60 seconds. Therefore, wavelet analysis on electrocorticogram is feasible for localizing cortical motor regions. Furthermore, this localization technique is accurate, safe and rapid.
