Comparison of Activation Patterns in Mirror Neurons and the Swallowing Network During Action Observation and Execution: A Task-Based fMRI Study

Abstract

Background: Observation of a goal-directed motor action can excite the respective mirror neurons, and this is the theoretical basis for action observation (AO) as a novel tool for functional recovery during stroke rehabilitation. To explore the therapeutic potential of AO for dysphagia, we conducted a task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to identify the brain areas activated during observation and execution of swallowing in healthy participants. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy volunteers viewed the following stimuli during fMRI scanning: an action-video of swallowing (condition 1, defined as AO), a neutral image with a Chinese word for "watching" (condition 2), and a neutral image with a Chinese word for "swallowing" (condition 3). Action execution (AE) was defined as condition 3 minus condition 2. One-sample t-tests were performed to define the brain regions activated during AO and AE. Results: Many brain regions were activated during AO, including the middle temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, pre-and postcentral gyrus, supplementary motor area, hippocampus, brainstem, and pons. AE resulted in activation of motor areas as well as other brain areas, including the inferior parietal lobule, vermis, middle frontal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus. Two brain areas, BA6 and BA21, were activated with both AO and AE. Conclusion: The left supplementary motor area (BA6) and left middle temporal gyrus (BA21), which contains mirror neurons, were activated in both AO and AE of swallowing. In this study, AO activated mirror neurons and the swallowing network in healthy participants, supporting its potential value in the treatment of dysphagia.

Expanding Rehabilitation Options for Dysphagia: Skill-Based Swallowing Training

“…Remarkable novel research highlights the therapeutic potential of engaging the perceptual and cognitive processes involved in swallowing to rehabilitate dysphagia [71,72]. For example, the role of action-observation has been discussed to promote functional recovery of swallowing following stroke.…”

“…AO involves the patient watching a video of a particular action (e.g. swallowing) in order to shape their own response [71]. This process is enabled through mirror neurons, found throughout the brain, that allow for action recognition, understanding, and motor learning [73][74][75].…”

“…Jing et al [71] investigated the role of AO in swallowing using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The authors previously identified that some of the brain areas recruited while swallowing overlap with mirror neurons in the motor regions, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and others [71].…”

Comparison of Sensory Observation and Somatosensory Stimulation in Mirror Neurons and the Sensorimotor Network: A Task-Based fMRI Study

“…With the development of neuroimaging techniques, task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been employed to investigate neuroanatomical and functional changes in sensation and movement ( 44 ). It provides a good foundation for our research on the activation of mirror neurons and the sensorimotor network during SO ( 45 ). This study designed SO and SS as tasks to reveal the possible neural mechanisms underlying the sensorimotor function changes and their relevance with mirror neurons in healthy adults by a task-based fMRI.…”

Longitudinal Resting-State fMRI Study: A Seed-Based Connectivity Analysis in Patients with Ischemic Stroke and Intracerebral Hemorrhage

“…Recently, several task-based and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) studies have been applied to evaluate post-stroke recovery (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). fMRI relies on the magnetic properties of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin to detect localized changes in blood ow caused by neuronal activity.…”