RESUMO
Cooperative action involves the simulation of actions and their co-representation by two or more people. This requires the involvement of two complex brain systems: the mirror neuron system (MNS) and the mentalizing system (MENT), both of critical importance for successful social interaction. However, their internal organization and the potential synergy of both systems during joint actions (JA) are yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to examine the role and interaction of these two fundamental systems-MENT and MNS-during continuous interaction. To this hand, we conducted a multiple-brain connectivity analysis in the source domain during a motor cooperation task using high-density EEG dual-recordings providing relevant insights into the roles of MNS and MENT at the intra- and interbrain levels. In particular, the intra-brain analysis demonstrated the essential function of both systems during JA, as well as the crucial role played by single brain regions of both neural mechanisms during cooperative activities. Specifically, our intra-brain analysis revealed that both neural mechanisms are essential during Joint Action (JA), showing a solid connection between MNS and MENT and a central role of the single brain regions of both mechanisms during cooperative actions. Additionally, our inter-brain study revealed increased inter-subject connections involving the motor system, MENT and MNS. Thus, our findings show a mutual influence between two interacting agents, based on synchronization of MNS and MENT systems. Our results actually encourage more research into the still-largely unknown realm of inter-brain dynamics and contribute to expand the body of knowledge in social neuroscience.
Assuntos
Encéfalo , Eletroencefalografia , Neurônios-Espelho , Teoria da Mente , Humanos , Neurônios-Espelho/fisiologia , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Adulto Jovem , Teoria da Mente/fisiologia , Encéfalo/fisiologia , Comportamento Cooperativo , Mentalização/fisiologia , Interação SocialRESUMO
This study investigates whether movement kinematics modulates similarly the rolandic α and ß rhythm amplitude during executed and observed goal-directed hand movements. It also assesses if this modulation relates to the corticokinematic coherence (CKC), which is the coupling observed between cortical activity and movement kinematics during such motor actions. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals were recorded from 11 right-handed healthy subjects while they performed or observed an actor performing the same repetitive hand pinching action. Subjects' and actor's forefinger movements were monitored with an accelerometer. Coherence was computed between acceleration signals and the amplitude of α (8-12 Hz) or ß (15-25 Hz) oscillations. The coherence was also evaluated between source-projected MEG signals and their ß amplitude. Coherence was mainly observed between acceleration and the amplitude of ß oscillations at movement frequency within bilateral primary sensorimotor (SM1) cortex with no difference between executed and observed movements. Cross-correlation between the amplitude of ß oscillations at the SM1 cortex and movement acceleration was maximal when acceleration was delayed by ~ 100 ms, both during movement execution and observation. Coherence between source-projected MEG signals and their ß amplitude during movement observation and execution was not significantly different from that during rest. This study shows that observing others' actions engages in the viewer's brain similar dynamic modulations of SM1 cortex ß rhythm as during action execution. Results support the view that different neural mechanisms might account for this modulation and CKC. These two kinematic-related phenomena might help humans to understand how observed motor actions are actually performed.
Assuntos
Ritmo alfa/fisiologia , Ritmo beta/fisiologia , Encéfalo/fisiologia , Objetivos , Movimento/fisiologia , Adulto , Fenômenos Biomecânicos/fisiologia , Feminino , Dedos , Humanos , Magnetoencefalografia/métodos , MasculinoRESUMO
Traditionally, the neural basis of social perception has been studied by showing participants brief examples of the actions or emotions of others presented in randomized order to prevent participants from anticipating what others do and feel. This approach is optimal to isolate the importance of information flow from lower to higher cortical areas. The degree to which feedback connections and Bayesian hierarchical predictive coding contribute to how mammals process more complex social stimuli has been less explored, and will be the focus of this review. We illustrate paradigms that start to capture how participants predict the actions and emotions of others under more ecological conditions, and discuss the brain activity measurement methods suitable to reveal the importance of feedback connections in these predictions. Together, these efforts draw a richer picture of social cognition in which predictive coding and feedback connections play significant roles. We further discuss how the notion of predicting coding is influencing how we think of autism spectrum disorder.
RESUMO
Robots are gaining an increasingly important role in industrial production. Notably, a high level of acceptance is an important factor for co-working situation between human and robot. The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in the perception of anthropomorphic and robotic movements using models consisting of a virtual robot and a digital human. Videos of each model displayed different degrees of human likeness or robot likeness in speed and trajectories of placing movements. Female and male participants were asked to rate on a Likert scale the perceived levels of human likeness or robot likeness in the two models. Overall, results suggest that males were sensitive to the differences between robotic and anthropomorphic movements, whereas females showed no difference between them. However, compared to males, female participants attributed more anthropomorphic features to robotic movements. The study is a first step toward a more comprehensive understanding of the human ability to differentiate between anthropomorphic and robotic movements and suggests a crucial role of gender in the human-robot interaction.
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BACKGROUND: Research investigating action observation-execution priming has mainly manipulated congruent versus incongruent action, and aspects of action expertise/capability. More specifically, the literature suggests enhanced performance priming following action observation by actors closely matched to participant expertise. The aim of the present study was to extend the understanding of action expertise effects by investigating action priming in healthy participants after observing a mild hemiparetic child actor versus a neurologically healthy child actor. METHODS: 16 healthy right-handed children, aged 6-13 years were tested. Several motor assessments were performed, including gross and fine manual motor ability, and upper limb kinematics measured using a precise robotic device. A cross-over design consisted in two experimental conditions (observing actions performed by a child with hemiparesis versus observing actions performed by a healthy child) and a pre-observation double baseline control condition, with the data analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Relative to baseline, both types of action observation conditions enhanced fine manual dexterity, but observing the hemiparetic child enhanced gross manual dexterity and upper limb velocity kinematics relative to observing actions performed by a healthy child. No effects were shown on measures of smoothness and accuracy. DISCUSSION: Contradictorily to hypotheses discussed in the literature, results here showed evidence of enhanced action execution when healthy children observed hemiparetic compared to healthy child actions. These results are discussed in terms of how patient compared to healthy actors may be useful for clinical action observation priming therapy.
Assuntos
Crianças com Deficiência/reabilitação , Mãos/fisiologia , Movimento/fisiologia , Desempenho Psicomotor/fisiologia , Extremidade Superior/fisiologia , Adolescente , Fenômenos Biomecânicos/fisiologia , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Paresia/patologiaRESUMO
Although the mirror neuron system (MNS) has been extensively studied in monkeys and adult humans, very little is known about its development. Previous studies suggest that the MNS is present by infancy and that the brain and MNS-related cognitive abilities (such as language, empathy, and imitation learning) continue to develop after childhood. In humans, the PFt area of the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) seems to particularly correlate with the functional properties of the PF area in primates, which contains mirror neurons. However, little is known about the functional connectivity (FC) of the PFt area with other brain areas and whether these networks change over time. Here, we investigated the FC development of the PFt area-based network in 59 healthy subjects aged 7-26 years at resting-state to study brain development from late childhood through adolescence to early adulthood. The bilateral PFt showed similar core FC networks, which included the frontal lobe, the cingulate gyri, the insula, the somatosensory cortex, the precuneus, the superior and inferior parietal lobules, the temporal lobe, and the cerebellum posterior lobes. Furthermore, the FC between the left PFt and the left IPL exhibited a significantly positive correlation with age, and the FC between the left PFt and the right postcentral gyrus exhibited a significantly negative correlation with age. In addition, the FC between the right PFt and the right putamen exhibited a significantly negative correlation with age. Our findings suggest that the PFt area-based network develops and is reorganized with age.
Assuntos
Mapeamento Encefálico , Vias Neurais/fisiologia , Lobo Parietal/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Criança , Imagem Ecoplanar , Análise Fatorial , Feminino , Lateralidade Funcional , Humanos , Processamento de Imagem Assistida por Computador , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Vias Neurais/diagnóstico por imagem , Oxigênio/sangue , Lobo Parietal/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Resumen En este estudio se analizó el efecto del desarrollo positivo sobre la contribución en jóvenes, y se identificaron las diferencias entre los jóvenes que han realizado actividades de voluntariado y los que no las han realizado; además se analizó la activación de las neuronas espejo. Participaron 121 universitarios, 28.9% hombres y 71.1% mujeres, con una media de edad de 21.51 años. Se utilizó la escala de Desarrollo Positivo en Adolescentes y de Contribución, además de un instrumento conformado por dos conjuntos de estímulos visuales. Los resultados corroboraron el efecto de las 5 c's sobre la contribución y se encontraron diferencias significativas en la escala de carácter y en dos dimensiones de contribución, donde los jóvenes que realizan actividades de voluntariado puntuaron más alto que aquellos que no las realizan. Se comprobó que existe activación en la zona correspondiente a las neuronas espejo, lo cual se relaciona con procesos empáticos. Se concluye que existe una relación entre las actividades de voluntariado y el desarrollo positivo en jóvenes universitarios.
Abstract The study analyzed the effect of positive development on contribution in young people and identified the differences between those who have done volunteer work and those who have not. It also studied the activation of the mirror neurons system. Participants were 121 university students, 28.9% male and 71.1% female, with an average age of 21.51. The Positive Youth Development Scale and the Contribution Scale were used, in addition to an instrument made up of two sets of visual stimuli. The results confirmed the effect of the 5 Cs on the contribution dimension and significant differences were found in the character scale and in two dimensions of contribution, in which young people who do volunteer work got higher scores than those who do not. The study confirmed that there was activation in the zone corresponding to the mirror neurons system, which is related to empathetic processes, and concluded that there was a relation between volunteering activities and the positive development of university students.
Resumo Neste estudo, foi analisado o efeito do desenvolvimento positivo sobre a contribuição em jovens e foram identificadas as diferenças entre os jovens que realizaram atividades de voluntariado e os que não as realizaram; além disso, foi analisada a ativação dos neurônios espelho. Participaram 121 universitários, 28.9 % homens e 71.1% mulheres, com uma média de idade de 21.51 anos. Foi utilizada a Escala de Desenvolvimento Positivo em Adolescentes e de Contribuição, ainda de um instrumento conformado por dois conjuntos de estímulos visuais. Os resultados corroboraram o efeito das 5 c's sobre a contribuição e foram verificadas diferenças significativas na escala de caráter e em duas dimensões de contribuição, em que os jovens que realizam atividades de voluntariado pontuaram mais alto que aqueles que não as realizam. Foi comprovado que existe ativação na zona correspondente aos neurônios espelho, o que está relacionado com processos empáticos. Conclui-se que existe uma relação entre as atividades de voluntariado e o desenvolvimento positivo em jovens universitários.