High level perception - Mirror neurons Flashcards

Question

What does a larger MEP indicate?

Answer 1

A larger MEP suggests greater cortical excitability, meaning the motor system is more responsive.

Answer 2

Observing an action can increase MEP amplitude, showing that the motor system is primed for movement (linked to mirror neurons).

Answer 3

TMS can enhance or suppress MEPs depending on stimulation parameters, helping researchers study motor system function.

Answer 4

Superior Temporal Sulcus (STS): Processes the visual motion. Inferior Parietal Lobule (IPL) & Premotor Cortex: Understands and plans the action. Primary Motor Cortex (M1): Becomes more excitable, preparing for movement (↑ MEPs with TMS).

Answer 5

Observation activates the motor system – Watching an action excites mirror neurons in the premotor cortex & inferior parietal lobule (IPL), priming movement. 🔹 TMS over M1 increases MEPs – If TMS is applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) while observing an action, MEPs in the corresponding muscles increase, showing that the motor system is more excitable. 🔹 More Excitable = More Likely to Move – This suggests the brain is preparing to imitate or respond to the observed action, even if no movement occurs.

Answer 6

TMS reveals that action observation directly influences motor excitability, supporting the role of the mirror neuron system in movement and learning.

Answer 7

They created molds of participants' tongues to study the connection between tongue movement, sound perception, and motor responses.

Answer 8

They found that hearing words with phonemes requiring tongue movements (like "t," "d," or "n") led to stronger MEP responses, suggesting auditory perception of these sounds activates the motor system. Listening to words that use the tongue enhance MEPs in the subject’s tongue

Answer 9

The brain regions responsible for speech and motor actions are activated by hearing sounds that involve the tongue, demonstrating a connection between auditory perception and motor functions.

Answer 10

- some have argued humans don’t - evidence is indirect - relies on correlational between visual and motor activity - neuroimaging is a measure of correlation

Answer 11

single-cell studies allow scientists to investigate how individual cells contribute to broader brain functions, giving a more detailed understanding of neural processes.

Answer 12

Found evidence for motor neurons in the Supplementary Motor Area and the Hippocampus. They were responding to both observation and executions of actions they responded to this and were more distributed

Answer 13

Neuroimaging shows an association between brain activity and behaviors (e.g., observing or performing actions), but it doesn't prove that mirror neurons cause the observed activity, only that certain brain regions are activated during these tasks.

Answer 14

Single-cell studies directly measure the activity of individual neurons, providing causal evidence of their role in action observation and performance. This offers more specific proof that certain neurons are involved in behaviors, unlike neuroimaging, which only shows brain activity patterns without directly linking them to causality.

Answer 15

- action perception - touch - language - intention - understanding action

Answer 16

People were less accurate at judging walking speed when they were cycling or standing still, compared to when they were walking. This shows that perception of others’ actions is enhanced when you're performing the same action, suggesting action-specific motor simulation in the brain.

Answer 17

To understand other people’s actions we simulate their actions - using our motor systems

Answer 18

*We acquire and deploy a commonsense theory of mind – set of causal/explanatory laws* **If our motor system is active when we observe other peoples actions - why don’t we automatically move. and what stops us moving.**

Answer 19

1. When we execute an action – our Mirror Neuron System is active 2. We understand the action that we are executing (goals, intent etc.) 3. Perception of other people’s actions -> activity in mirror neuron system 4. Therefore: understand the action

Answer 20

Mirror neurons for touch are somatosensory neurons that respond both during touch and when observing another person being touched.

Answer 21

Different neurons code touch in different places, allowing you to empathize with the person being touched, but you don’t actually feel the touch yourself.

Answer 22

Mechanoreceptors are pain receptors in the skin that provide feedback to the brain, signaling that you are not being touched.

Answer 23

Blocking nerve feedback causes you to actually feel when someone else is touched and observe it, as the skin no longer provides the usual barrier between your own sensory experience and that of others.

Answer 24

Greater activity in premotor cortex to intention condition Mirror neurons responsible for understanding the intention of the observed actor

Answer 25

They found greater brain activation when participants observed human lip-speaking and monkey lip-making compared to dog barking.

Answer 26

It suggests that humans more strongly process stimuli that are familiar or known to them, such as human speech.

Answer 27

It suggests that humans tend to process more strongly stimuli that are relevant or familiar to them, like human speech or social cues, due to cognitive efficiency and evolutionary relevance.

Answer 28

negative correlation with activity in inferior frontal gryus (mirror system) and ASD and this leads to inability to do this task.

Answer 29

Mirror neurons represent actions, allowing for both imitation and understanding of actions, linking the sender (actor) and receiver (observer).

Answer 30

It suggests that communication relies on the same motor system used for actions, where mirror neurons help us understand speech as an action and imitate mouth movements.

Answer 31

The F5 region in monkeys, which controls hand and mouth movements, is the homologue of Broca’s area in humans, which is responsible for speech production.

Answer 32

They suggested that: Observers recognize actions and intentions through mirror neurons. Conscious control of the mirror system allows for voluntary signals. A primitive dialogue begins between the observer and the actor, starting with non-verbal gestures.

Answer 33

Mirror neurons helped form primitive dialogue using hand movements, and later mouth movements (oro-facial gestures), which may have been the precursor to language.

Answer 34

It's suggested that language could have evolved from hand gestures and the mirror neuron system, building on early non-verbal communication.

Answer 35

The human mirror neuron system may be more complex, supporting advanced communication (like speech) and cognitive abilities, while non-human primates may focus more on action recognition and imitation.

Answer 36

Mu rhythm suppression is an index of motor activation that occurs when we observe actions. It is a key marker of mirror neuron activity.

Answer 37

Individuals with ASD show reduced Mu rhythm suppression during action observation, suggesting impaired mirror neuron system activity.

Answer 38

TMS-induced corticospinal activation measures motor system activity during action observation, specifically testing mirror neuron function.

Answer 39

Reduced corticospinal activation during action observation was found in individuals with ASD, suggesting impaired mirror neuron system performance.

Answer 40

Children with ASD show reduced MNS response to both observation and execution of facial expressions, indicating dysfunction in the Mirror Neuron System. The response is specifically reduced in the Inferior Frontal Gyrus (IFG).

Answer 41

leading to difficulties in action understanding, imitation, empathy, and social interaction (being able to recognise others emotion.

Answer 42

Participants judged the weight of objects lifted by others while lifting objects themselves. Lifting a heavy object → others' object appeared lighter. Lifting a light object → others' object appeared heavier. 🧠 Suggests that your own motor state biases how you perceive others' actions. Supports the role of the mirror neuron system in action simulation and perception-action coupling.