Lecture 15 & 16 - Prefrontal Cortex & Mirror Neuron System

Question 1

Under what two conditions are Mirror Neurons activated?

Answer 1

• when performing an action (goal-directed)

- when observing another perform similar action

Question 2

Mirror Neurons are thought to underlie capacity for which functions?

Answer 2

• evolution of language
• recognise intention and action of others
• imitate and feel empathy towards others
• disorders may be linked to autistic spectrum disorders

Question 3

Which two cortical areas are mirror neurons found?

Answer 3

• Inferior parietal lobe & ventral premotor cortex
• insula & rostral cingulate gyrus
• prefrontal cortex & language areas

Question 4

which species have mirror neurons?

Answer 4

• bird, macaque monkeys, humans

Question 5

what is the parieto-frontal action-intention mirror neuron system?

Answer 5

the inf. parietal cortex receives sensory stimuli from temporal lobe (sup. temporal sulcus & inf. temporal lobe) and sends to the premotor cortex for execution of imitative motor actions, in response to observed/heard motor action

Question 6

why are mirror neurons considered important in terms of Autistic spectrum disorders?

Answer 6

• MN’s are thought to play a role in the capacity to understand the INTENTION of someone else’s actions, which links with TOM

Question 7

apes and children cannot distinguish between ___ of a mental state and ___ of a mental state, and also the interaction between ___ objects. aka lack of ___.

Answer 7

content
object
3
TOM

Question 8

At what age do children develop TOM?

Answer 8

after 3-4 years of age

Question 9

observing grabbing behaviour in different contexts activated which cortical area?

Answer 9

inferior, posterior frontal gyrus

Question 10

How is empathy related to the mirror neuron system? (explain involved cortical structures)

Answer 10

the MNS is linked with the LIMBIC SYSTEM via the AMYGDALA and ANT. CINGULATE and INSULAR cortices.

Question 11

the insula and amygdala are activated when?

Answer 11

observing/imitating emotional expressions of others

Question 12

the anterior cingulate and insular cortices are activated when?

Answer 12

• observing loved one/self be afflicted with pain.

- similar effects for CIP patients

Question 13

observation of “vocal” type motor actions of humans, monkeys and dogs produced what outcomes respectively in humans? (suggesting?)

Answer 13

• activity in left VPC
• activity in bilateral VPC
• no activity
• suggests motor actions similar to observer’s motor repertoire are mapped onto motor system.

Question 14

how is the MNS thought to be related to the developmental origins of language? (x4)

Answer 14

• activation of LEFT motor cortex when hearing verbal material/ hand and mouth gestures
• overlap between motor and language areas
• ## activation of MN’s for imitation from observing intransitive actions

Question 15

what research experiment showed lack of understanding of the INTENTION of observed actions in ASD patients?

Answer 15

• control subject showed JAW MUSCLE ACTIVITY when observing someone pick up food (understanding intention)
• ASD subjects only showed activation upon the TARGET ACTION (eating the food)

Question 16

what are some factors which distinguish the PFC with the rest of the cortex? (x3)

Answer 16

• distinct cytoarchitecture
• distinct neurochemical signature
• distinct subcortical projections

Question 17

what are two cortical areas that the PFC DOES NOT project to?

Answer 17

• PRIMARY motor and sensory cortices

Question 18

dopamine is released to PFC from the ? for? Explain the concepts

Answer 18

• VTA
• modulating cortical vs thalamic influence in relation to reward signal for goal-directed behaviours
• high levels of dopamine allow thalamic input to dominate
• low levels of dopamine allow cortical input to dominate

Question 19

The PFC is not fully developed until

Answer 19

more than 30 years of age

Question 20

what are the 3 PFC regions and respective key functions?

Answer 20

• orbital (emotional)
• medial (emotional)
• lateral (temporal organisation of behaviour, speech, reasoning)

Question 21

hyperactivity, disregard for social behaviour, disinhibiton and impulsivity are all consequences of lesion to which PFC area?

Answer 21

oribital PFC

Question 22

what does a lesion to the MEDIAL PFC lead to

Answer 22

lack of empathy, inability to self error-correct, unmotivated, loss of general motility, unaware of own condition etc