Mirror neurons 30 years later: implications and applications

Bonini, Luca; Rotunno, Cristina; Arcuri, Edoardo; Gallese, Vittorio

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2022.06.003

Cited by 142 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 138 publications

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“…Thus, it has been proposed that AONs in the human brain might provide the prediction of the action related feedback (how action must feel and look) and compare the obtained sensory information with the prediction. The last process can be used to correct motor errors that are characterized by mismatch between the prediction and the real sensory feedback (Kilner et al, 2007;Koelewijn et al, 2008;Bonini et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mu-desynchronization, N400 and corticospinal excitability during observation of natural and anatomically unnatural finger movements

Syrov

Bredikhin

Yakovlev

et al. 2022

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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The action observation networks (AON) (or the mirror neuron system) are the neural underpinnings of visuomotor integration and play an important role in motor control. Besides, one of the main functions of the human mirror neuron system is recognition of observed actions and the prediction of its outcome through the comparison with the internal mental motor representation. Previous studies focused on the human mirror neurons (MNs) activation during object-oriented movements observation, therefore intransitive movements observation effects on MNs activity remains relatively little-studied. Moreover, the dependence of MNs activation on the biomechanical characteristics of observed movement and their biological plausibility remained highly underexplored. In this study we proposed that naturalness of observed intransitive movement can modulate the MNs activity. Event-related desynchronization (ERD) of sensorimotor electroencephalography (EEG) rhythms, N400 event-related potentials (ERPs) component and corticospinal excitability were investigated in twenty healthy volunteers during observation of simple non-transitive finger flexion that might be either biomechanically natural or unnatural when finger wriggled out toward the dorsal side of palm. We showed that both natural and unnatural movements caused mu/beta-desynchronization, which gradually increased during the flexion phase and returned to baseline while observation of extension. Desynchronization of the mu-rhythm was significantly higher during observation of the natural movements. At the same time, beta-rhythm was not found to be sensitive to the action naturalness. Also, observation of unnatural movements caused an increased amplitude of the N400 component registered in the centro-parietal regions. We suggest that the sensitivity of N400 to intransitive action observation with no explicit semantic context might imply the broader role of N400 sources within AON. Surprisingly, no changes in corticospinal excitability were found. This lack of excitability modulation by action observation could be related with dependence of the M1 activity on the observed movement phase.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mu-desynchronization, N400 and corticospinal excitability during observation of natural and anatomically unnatural finger movements

Syrov

Bredikhin

Yakovlev

et al. 2022

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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“…approach) the encountered social environment (see Bonini et al, 2022 Although in our multivariate clustering analysis self-reported social anxiety (as indexed by the SPIN) is included as a relevant contributor to the final cluster result, we found no significant association with gaze-related changes in motor resonance when zooming in into it's unique (i.e. univariate) contribution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…The human ability to recognize others' actions and gestures is essential for effective social perception and communication. This ability is supported by the so-called mirror system, which enables the internal simulation of perceived actions in the observer's own motor system, also known as 'interpersonal motor resonance' (Bonini et al, 2022;Molenberghs et al, 2012;Rizzolatti & Sinigaglia, 2016). While this process of internal motor simulation is presumed to have a certain degree of automaticity, it is modulated by myriad factors, including individual differences in specific traits and the social context in which the observed actions are embedded (see Kemmerer, 2021 for an overview).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In the eye of the beholder: Social traits predict motor simulation during social gaze

Prinsen

Alaerts²

2022

Preprint

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Previous research has robustly demonstrated that mutual eye contact between actor and observer promotes the simulation of perceived actions into the observer’s own motor system, which in turn facilitates successful social perception and communication. However, the socially relevant connotation embedded in eye contact may be different for individuals with differing social traits. Here, we investigated whether normal (i.e. non-clinical) variability in self-reported social responsiveness, social anxiety and interpersonal relationship style (secure, avoidant or anxious attachment) is related to one’s ability to show enhanced motor resonance during dyadic eye contact. This was investigated in a representative dataset of 124 adult participants (age range: 18-35 years) who underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) while observing an actor performing simple hand actions and simultaneously engaging in mutual eye contact or gazing away from the observer. Motor evoked potentials were collected as an index of motor resonance. Univariate analyses specifically highlighted the unique role of social responsiveness and secure attachment in shaping motor resonance, indicating that socially adaptive motor resonance during dyadic gaze (i.e. direct > averted) was only observed in participants displaying high levels of these traits. Furthermore, a multivariate clustering analysis identified three data-driven social trait profiles predominantly defined by attachment style, showing a clear differentiation in motor resonant patterns upon dyadic gaze cues in accordance with a recent neurobiological framework of attachment. Together, results demonstrate that motor resonance within a given social interaction is a sensitive tracker of socio-interactive engagement, which allows to capture (sub)clinical inter-individual variation in relevant social traits.

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“…Numerous studies have shown that a fronto-temporo-parietal network mediates this function in Old World macaques and humans (1,5,7,14,15,55). This so-called action observation network (AON) responds to goal-directed actions (6,7), and its main function seems to be to attribute a purpose to the actions of others in order to plan an effective response, providing the foundation for social interactions (29,56). A strong conceptual overlapping exists between the definition of AON and that of the mirror neuron system, a brain network activated both during the observation and the execution of goal-directed actions (57)(58)(59).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This represents the visual input of the AON which is subsequently transmitted to the rest of the network through projections to visual and visuomotor neurons in the IPL (7,9,(23)(24)(25). The parietal and premotor nodes of the AON represent observed actions according to their goal (12,9,26,27,6,7,28,14,25,5,29), enabling understanding of others' intentions and facilitating the planning of an adequate behavioural response.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An action-observation network in the common marmoset identified by ultra-high field fMRI

Zanini

Dureux

Everling

2022

Preprint

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Thirty years have passed since the first description of neurons in Old World macaque monkeys that fire both during the execution and observation of goal-directed actions. Since then, these so-called mirror neurons have been shown to play important roles in understanding the actions of others, learning by imitation, and social cognition in macaques and humans. In contrast to Old World primates, an action-observation network has not yet been identified in New World primates. Here we used ultra-high field fMRI at 9.4T in awake common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) while they watched videos depicting the upper-limb of marmosets performing goal-directed (grasping food) or non-goal-directed actions. We found that the observation of goal-directed actions, compared to non-goal directed ones, activated a frontotemporoparietal network, including areas 6 and 45 in premotor and prefrontal cortices, and areas PGa-IPa, FST, and the TE complex in temporoparietal regions. These results demonstrate the existence of an evolutionarily conserved action observation network in primates that likely predates the separation of Old and New World monkeys.

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Mirror neurons 30 years later: implications and applications

Cited by 142 publications

References 138 publications

Mu-desynchronization, N400 and corticospinal excitability during observation of natural and anatomically unnatural finger movements

Mu-desynchronization, N400 and corticospinal excitability during observation of natural and anatomically unnatural finger movements

In the eye of the beholder: Social traits predict motor simulation during social gaze

An action-observation network in the common marmoset identified by ultra-high field fMRI

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