The Role of Mirror Neurons in Processing Vocal Emotions: Evidence from Psychophysiological Data

Ramachandra, Vijayachandra; Depalma, Nina; Lisiewski, Sara

doi:10.1080/00207450802572188

Cited by 24 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Recent literature has shown that the brain’s mirror neuron system is strongly involved in motoric imitation as well as in vocal imitation, a phenomenon first investigated in song birds (Prather, 2013) that learn their melody lines by imitation. On the basis of various neuroimaging studies, the claim could be made that the intertwined involvement of receptive and expressive functions, especially during vocal production, is a sign of a refined learning system of human social communication (Brown et al, 2004; Ramachandra et al, 2009; Leveque et al, 2013). Recent findings discussed the underlying pathways for vocal and non-vocal perception and production (Loui et al, 2009) which could be interpreted as a reason for a potentially different outcome for instrumental versus vocal imitation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical investigations of receptive and expressive musical functions after stroke

et al. 2015

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There is a long tradition of investigating various disorders of musical abilities after stroke. These impairments, associated with acquired amusia, can be highly selective, affecting only music perception (i.e., receptive abilities/functions) or expression (music production abilities), and some patients report that these may dramatically influence their emotional state. The aim of this study was to systematically test both the melodic and rhythmic domains of music perception and expression in left- and right-sided stroke patients compared to healthy subjects. Music perception was assessed using rhythmic and melodic discrimination tasks, while tests of expressive function involved the vocal or instrumental reproduction of rhythms and melodies. Our approach revealed deficits in receptive and expressive functions in stroke patients, mediated by musical expertise. Those patients who had experienced a short period of musical training in childhood and adolescence performed better in the receptive and expressive subtests compared to those without any previous musical training. While discrimination of specific musical patterns was unimpaired after a left-sided stroke, patients with a right-sided stroke had worse results for fine melodic and rhythmic analysis. In terms of expressive testing, the most consistent results were obtained from a test that required patients to reproduce sung melodies. This implies that the means of investigating production abilities can impact the identification of deficits.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical investigations of receptive and expressive musical functions after stroke

et al. 2015

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“…In a study by Ramachandra et al [14] physiological reactions to emotional words were tested in 25 undergraduate student participants [14]. These participants were comprised of eight men and 17 women with a mean age of 21.5 years.…”

Section: Emotional Primingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may point towards the fact that the mirror neuron system is activated in both thinking about emotion, as one would through empathy, and during vocalization of emotion. The study by Ramachandra [14] and his colleagues reference recent studies [15][16][17][18] using both neuroimaging and electrophysiological testing procedures, reveal that specialized sets of neurons, specifically the mirror neuron system are implicated not only in the perception and imitation of action, but include cognitive and emotional functions as well as motor functions.…”

Section: Emotional Primingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ramachandra et al [14] state that more recent studies [19] reveal the existence of an auditory mirror neuron system in the premotor cortex, that activates while listening to an action as well as performing the action separately. A prominent link the researchers write, is the connection between the limbic lobe, which processes emotion and the mirror neuron system of the motor and pre-motor cortex.…”

Section: Emotional Primingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The link the researchers reference is the anterior insula. Ramachandra et al [14] report that it is possible to indirectly study the function of the mirror neuron system through psychophysiology measures. Their study uses such techniques to better understand the neural mechanisms of vocal emotions [14].…”

Section: Emotional Primingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Emotion, Vision and Touch in Movement Learning Neuroplasticity and the Mirror Neuron System

Masterson¹

2015

JPCPY

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The brains ability to restructure, linked with positive emotional states and techniques to enhance the activation of the mirror neuron system, allows for increased motor learning. This study examines the effects of enhancing goal-oriented movement and examines various techniques used to strengthen neural networks during such movement practices. Goal oriented movement practices are commonly used when engaging in Pilates. Participants will be divided between three groups to help identify potential differences between individuals who receive sensory cueing and those who do not receive sensory cueing. It is hypothesized there will be a difference between participants who receive emotional priming and the visual enhancement of touch versus those who are not primed. Specifically, it is predicted that participants who are primed will demonstrate enhanced skill acquisition of learning during Pilates as opposed to participants assigned to either the regular Pilates condition or the control condition. These types of studies are important in that they can possibly be applied in many motor learning areas, such as physical therapy, sports, general physical activity for health, and possibly even psychological interventions. Results of the current study supported the main hypothesis in that increased physical task skill was obtained in the group receiving positive emotional cueing and visual enhancement of touch. Likewise there was a statically significant increase in physical self-efficacy scores in the group receiving these independent variables over that of the group receiving regular Pilates only. The results of the current study show that a physical task environment such as that in a Pilates class can be improved by adding techniques that enhance sensory input to the regions of the brain that recognize and process motor activity. Also that with an increase in physical skill comes a heightened physical self-efficacy. In theory this was due to an enhancement of receptivity in the regions of the brain responsible for motor leaning which includes the mirror neuron system, as well as the emotional centers of the brain which are responsible for goal motivation and selfefficacy.

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Indirect Teaching

Taylor de Faoite

2013

The Therapeutic Powers of Play

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The Role of Mirror Neurons in Processing Vocal Emotions: Evidence from Psychophysiological Data

Cited by 24 publications

References 25 publications

Clinical investigations of receptive and expressive musical functions after stroke

Clinical investigations of receptive and expressive musical functions after stroke

The Role of Emotion, Vision and Touch in Movement Learning Neuroplasticity and the Mirror Neuron System

Indirect Teaching

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