The middle cingulate cortex and dorso-central insula: A mirror circuit encoding observation and execution of vitality forms

Abstract

Actions with identical goals can be executed in different ways (gentle, rude, vigorous, etc.), which D. N. Stern called vitality forms [D. N. Stern, Forms of Vitality Exploring Dynamic Experience in Psychology, Arts, Psychotherapy, and Development (2010)]. Vitality forms express the agent’s attitudes toward others. In a series of fMRI studies, we found that the dorso-central insula (DCI) is the region that is selectively active during both vitality form observation and execution. In one previous experiment, however, the middle cingulate gyrus also exhibited activation. In the present study, in order to assess the role of the cingulate cortex in vitality form processing, we adopted a classical vitality form paradigm, but making the control condition devoid of vitality forms using jerky movements. Participants performed two different tasks: Observation of actions performed gently or rudely and execution of the same actions. The results showed that in addition to the insula, the middle cingulate cortex (MCC) was strongly activated during both action observation and execution. Using a voxel-based analysis, voxels showing a similar trend of the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal in both action observation and execution were found in the DCI and in the MCC. Finally, using a multifiber tractography analysis, we showed that the active sites in MCC and DCI are reciprocally connected.

Altered static and dynamic spontaneous neural activity in patients with ischemic pontine stroke

“…The cingulate cortex is usually considered to be a part of the limbic system ( Rolls, 2019 ), which is associated with memory, sleep, emotions, and behavior. The previous study suggested that the middle cingulate cortex was strongly activated during both action observation and execution ( Di Cesare et al, 2021 ). The decreased activity in the middle cingulate cortex may reflect the underlying basis for the impairment of executive function and cognition in patients with chronic pontine infarction.…”

Alcohol use disorder‐associated structural and functional characteristics of the insula

“…The MCC and insula are anatomically connected and form a vitality form circuit, which plays a role in the expression of actions (e.g., gentle, rude etc.) (Cesare et al, 2021). Although the existing literature about the role of MCC in AUD is limited, based on prior findings it is possible that an alteration in response to stressful cues contribute to deviations from expression of normal vitality forms in persons with AUD.…”

A glimpse into social perception in light of vitality forms

“…Participants performed two different tasks: observing a gentle or rude action and performing the same action. The results indicated that the MCC was strongly activated during action observation and execution, in addition to the insula ( Di Cesare et al, 2021a ). Besides, the neural bases of vitality forms should be incorporated into the larger MNS in the near future.…”

“…It can also explain the difficulty of healthy children in recognizing the vitality forms of autistic children, that is, it is difficult for them to match the sensory modules of the motor kinematics observed in children with autism with their own brain processing and corresponding modules of vitality forms (see Figure 1 ). Di Cesare et al (2021a) suggest that besides the DCI, the middle cingulate cortex (MCC) is also strongly activated during action observation and execution. This new finding is involved with a new how-dimension of action, by using jerky movements as a control condition.…”