Congenital mirror movements: a clue to understanding bimanual motor control

Abstract

Mirror movements (MM) are involuntary movements of one side of the body that accompany and mirror intentional movements on the opposite side. Physiological MM can occur during normal childhood development, probably owing to corpus callosum immaturity. Pathological congenital MM may be clinically isolated or part of a complex congenital syndrome, including Kallmann syndrome, Klippel-Feil syndrome, and congenital hemiplegia. Congenital isolated MM are usually familial. Recently, heterozygous mutations of the DCC gene, with autosomal dominant inheritance, were shown to cause some cases of MM. The pathogenesis of congenital MM may involve (i) abnormal interhemispheric inhibition between the two motor cortices; (ii) functional alteration of motor planning and motor execution; and/or (iii) abnormal persistence of the ipsilateral corticospinal tract. Fundamental and clinical research is providing novel insights into the complex underlying molecular pathways, and recent experimental work has identified several mechanisms that may mediate the motor network dysfunction. In this review, we analyze clinical, genetic, neurophysiologic, and neuroimaging data on congenital MM, and discuss how this knowledge may improve our understanding of bimanual motor control.

Mutations in the netrin-1 gene cause congenital mirror movements

“…Although the NTR, also present with corpus callosum agenesis and defects in the decussation of the CST. This is partly consistent with the abnormalities found in CMM patients that involve both altered interhemispheric inhibition and abnormal decussation of the CST (26,27). The study of Ntn1-conditional KO mice (3, 10) might allow for a better understanding of the pathogenic underpinnings of CMM in NTN1 patients.…”

“…during unimanual movements (26)(27)(28). To date, the established culprit genes are DCC and RAD51, which encodes a DNA repair protein, and possibly DNAL4, which encodes an axonemal dynein light chain (19,21,(29)(30)(31).…”

Interlimb neural coupling: Implications for poststroke hemiparesis

“…An infant exhibits interlimb neural coupling in the form of mirror movements, involuntary movements of one side of the body; this occurs by the mirroring of voluntary movements on the opposite side. This could be due to immature corpus callosum among infants [39,40]. However, after maturation of the corpus callosum, an individual exhibits the ability to voluntarily couple and decouple movements of the limbs.…”

“…Un nourrisson présente un couplage neuronal inter-membres sous forme de mouvements en miroir, c'est-à-dire des mouvements involontaires d'un côté du corps ; ces mouvements se produisent en copiant les mouvements volontaires exécutés du côté opposé. Ceci pourrait être dû à un corps calleux immature chez le nourrisson [39,40]. Toutefois, après maturation du corps calleux, un individu est capable de coupler et découpler volontairement les mouvements des membres.…”

Congenital Mirror Movements in Gorlin Syndrome: A Case Report With DTI and Functional MRI Features

“…1 The DCC gene encodes the DCC protein, a receptor for Netrin-1, which guides the axons across the midline of the body. 18 The RAD51 gene product is thought to affect the development of corticospinal axons at the pyramidal decussation. 19 An underlying genetic defect may be revealed in only a minority of affected individuals and the pathogenesis is better understood by TMS, DTI, and fMRI.…”